The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has today confirmed a total of 528 cases -a jump from 474 last Thursday.
All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Martyn Jones.
On Sunday, September 20, from 12.00pm until 10.00pm, the club’s members will take part in the Macmillan Darts Marathon.
With a target of raising £500 for the life-saving charity, those taking part have set themselves the challenge of scoring 100,000 points in one day.
Macmillan Darts Marathon organiser Leighton Rowlands, Chair Michaela Guy, and Steward Chris Sharp are the first named people to be taking part in the charity fundraiser. However, many other committee and club members will also be joining in with the dart-throwing challenge.
In an open call for further participants and community involvement, The Penarth Conservative Club Facebook group said: “Whether you’re an experienced darts player or just fancy throwing a few arrows for a great cause, we’d love you to join our team and help us reach our target!”
Chair Michaela Guy made it clear that the challenge is “more than just a game – it’s our way of giving back, bringing our community together, and helping Macmillan continue the incredible care and support they provide to those who need it most.”
When organising the Macmillan Darts Marathon, Rowland said he took inspiration from “renowned Welsh darts referee Huw Ware”, who is also competing in support of the charity.
Rowlands added that “the Cons Club already has a sports bar with four darts boards” and since “not many people know that Macmillan do this Darts Marathon,” “why not do something fun and raise money for charity?”
Money raised through the Macmillan Darts Marathon helps fund the charity’s frontline services, while the event also aims to encourage more open conversations about the experiences of people affected by cancer.
Those unable to attend the event can still support the fundraiser by donating via the club’s fundraising page or by scanning the QR code on the event poster.
A major children’s hospital caring for some of the sickest and most vulnerable patients is facing measles exposure after visitors tested positive for the highly infectious virus.
Bank issues new alert with people potentially losing hundreds of pounds
Santander customers have been sent direct emails from the bank warning them of fraudsters targeting them currently – with some costing an average of £647. In the new alert today the bank said people are being taken in by ‘social engineering’ tactics.
This means they attempt to make the victim think it is actually a family member or friend who is in need of money. The email says: “Fraudsters try to trick you into sharing information or making payments. This is known as social engineering. They often impersonate trusted organisations, friends, or family and create a sense of urgency through phone calls, texts, emails, or social media messages.”
It advised on the key warning signs and actions:
- Only share your screen with people you trust. If someone contacts you and asks to see your screen, stop and verify who they are using official contact details.
- Never access your bank account or other private information while sharing your screen. Fraudsters can see what you do and may try to trick you into making a payment.
- Never trust caller ID alone. They can make calls, texts, and emails appear to come from real companies or people you know. This is called spoofing.
- Take your time. They often create a sense of urgency to stop you thinking things through.
There are a number of scams which are used – which have an average loss to the victim:
- Romance Scams: Victims lose an average of £4,500 each.
- Sports Ticket Scams: The average loss sits at £352.
- General Ticket Scams: Average claims amount to £107.
- Beauty and Aesthetics Scams: Victims lose an average of £227 each.
- Facebook Marketplace Scams: Affected customers face an average claim of £647.
- Wider UK Fraud Average: Across general fraud cases reported in the UK, individuals lose an average of over £900
To take ‘side hustle’ scams for an example, Santander said earlier this year more than £95,000 was stolen from customers between October and December 2025 by criminals offering money for completing “tasks”.
Some scammers will promise money in return for liking or sharing social media influencer videos, often offering small payments initially to hook consumers in.
People may also be asked to download another messaging app to connect with other “members”, such as a “receptionist” or “mentor”, and to open an account on a crypto platform.
Scam victims are asked to complete tasks that they need to pre-pay to access, using their own money, on the promise of getting a higher return. The criminal will ask the victim to deposit money into an account controlled by a fraudster.
They will then be blocked from withdrawing their funds, often by being told their “credit score” is below the threshold to withdraw cash and more money is needed to release it.
People aged 20 to 55 are commonly targeted and Santander has warned criminals often misrepresent themselves as being from legitimate companies to gain people’s trust. In June the bank said £160,000 has been reported stolen because of “Hi Dad” impersonation scams so far in 2026.
Fraudsters will target potential victims via messages or an AI-generated phone call, pretending to be their child requesting money or to make a payment.
Santander’s quarterly “scamtracker”, which charts volumes, values and trends in authorised push payment (APP) scams where people are tricked into sending money to criminals, found that men handed over the equivalent of £100,000 to scammers every day during the first six months of the year, with the biggest hitters by value being investment and purchase scams.
Chris Ainsley, head of fraud risk management at Santander UK, said: “As a parent myself, I know how busy life gets – juggling kids, work and a social life – and fraudsters often target people when they know they might not have time to properly consider what they’re being asked to do.
“Whether it’s an investment opportunity that sounds too good to be true, or a text or phone call out of the blue from your child asking for money, we are urging people to stay alert and stay safe.”
Did you know music CAN be used therapeutically to restore optimial functioning, despite significant structural damage to the brain? When we think about receiving a diagnosis of a dementia and the possible impact of that on our brain health, many of us would assume that it could be catastrophic. What if we knew that music could be used therapeutically to help restore optimal functioning, despite significant structural damage to the brain?
The current World Health Organization (WHO) definition of brain health refers to ‘the state of brain functioning that allows… individuals to reach their full potential throughout their lives, regardless of the presence or absence of disorders.’ By this definition, brain health is not just the absence of disease, but a state of optimal functioning across ’cognitive, sensory, socio-emotional, behavioural and motor domains’.
This is the story of Frank who can perform, experience creative freedom and contribute to the life of his community through the interactive use of music, despite living with an advanced stage dementia.
Frank has a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and has been a care home resident for nearly two years. Frank receives regular, weekly, individual music therapy sessions and attends a large, music therapy group within the home.
Music Therapy is a clinical intervention in the UK, delivered by trained and registered therapists. Both client and therapist can actively make music together, using music as the primary means of expression, communication and change.
Music and singing had always been a great hobby of Frank’s. His voice was much admired and he used to perform at functions in bands with friends.
Since his diagnosis, Frank has become increasingly confused with long periods of disorientation and frustration. His mood can dip in the late afternoon, becoming very restless, sometimes unable to have his evening meal or interact positively with others.
Due to the role that music had previously played in Frank’s life and to observed positive responses to music, it seemed that music therapy might be an appropriate intervention for him.
In session one, Frank expressed interest in playing the guitar- a lifelong ambition. He was offered one to explore straightaway. This seemed to provide a focus, where concentration had previously been difficult and he took it seriously, asking for feedback on how to hold and play it.
The guitar was tuned so it sounded satisfying for him to play and he now uses it in creative ways: strumming with a plectrum, creating different rhythms and picking out strings individually with his fingers to produce different effects.
I often accompany him on keyboard and we sing together, taking turns to sing different lines. Frank can create his own song-words, expressing thoughts, feelings and his love of blues music. He seems to find a freedom in this and his previous experience of music seems to come to the fore.
Frank plays a starring role in the weekly group, taking requests from others and performing solos. He looks happy when he sings and to be absorbed in the music. In that moment, he is healthy, he is well and there are no outward, observable signs that he is living with any debilitating neurological disorder. He is performing using his whole self, he and the music are as one in what the neuroscientist Daniel Levitin describes as ‘flow state’.
How is this possible? It seems to be largely due to the neuroanatomy of music, where music is represented throughout the brain in all its main areas, creating expansive networks which can continue to function despite more localised damage elsewhere.
The person-led use of music, utilising a person’s previous life experiences, their preferences, current wishes and support needs, can positively impact observed brain health in a transformative way. Music therapy helps to support Frank’s mood, his dexterity and global functioning. It has facilitated the learning of a new skill plus positive and creative interactions with others. This may help to reinforce his sense of identity, his self-esteem and his role in his current environment.
Contributor: Laura Bolton, Music Therapist with Nazareth Care Charitable Trust
Enjoyed this blog? Tell us more. We love feedback.
Please spend 1 minute completing this short anonymous feedback form to allow us to make our blog posts even better in 2026. Thank you
AHP Let’s Talk About Dementia Blog Feedback Form – Fill out form
(this blog was previously posted here and has been reposted with permission)
COMING SOON in 2027
Email us at AHPDementia@alzscot.org for more information about the CPD AHP rights-based dementia rehabilitation module on 13th and 14th May 2027
It said it wanted to hold employers to account
Hundreds of employers have been named by the UK Government for failing to pay workers the National Minimum Wage. Around £4 million in wages has been repaid to more than 27,000 workers by 658 employers following “robust” enforcement action.
Ministers said they were determined to stop employers short-changing their staff, announcing that penalties totalling £7 million have been issued to employers found not to be paying the legal minimum wage. The Government said it was committed to publishing naming lists more regularly so that employers are swiftly held to account and make improvements as soon as possible.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “The best businesses know that looking after your workers isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do, building the stronger, more successful businesses that drive growth in every postcode.
“Most employers already understand this and I want to work with them to ensure they have every piece of guidance and support available to help them follow the rules. Short-changing your staff isn’t a shortcut to success and we are determined to stamp it out.”
Minister for the future of work Kate Dearden said: “Underpaying your staff is illegal and we will not let workers foot the bill for their boss failing to follow the rules.
“We’re making sure workers get the hard-earned pay they deserve, and where employers fall short, they will be held to account. Every employer should check their payroll now and reach out to Acas if they need further support.”
Among the firms named by the Government was DIY giant B&Q, which was reported to have failed to pay £456,934 to 4,530 workers.
A spokesman for the company said: “The shortfalls in payments were unintentional. They relate to calculations involving geographical allowances, which are paid in addition to minimum hourly rates. All affected colleagues were quickly paid in full in July 2025.”
Other firms named by the Government included:
– Elysium Healthcare Holdings Limited, reported to have failed to pay £330,048 to 1,095 workers
– St George’s, Epsom and St Helier Hospital Group, Epsom, (£123,331 to 75 workers)
– Support Staff Services Limited, Slough (£119,715 to 323 workers)
– Forest Holidays Ltd (£100,308 to 598 workers)
– St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (£77,498 to 55 workers)
– Lanes Group Limited, Leeds (£67,893 to 297 workers)
– UK Care Team Ltd, Leicester (£67,082 to 99 workers)
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “Bosses who fail to pay the minimum wage deserve to be named and shamed. There is no excuse for workers being cheated out of the minimum wage. It’s bad for workers, families and the economy.
“Every pound taken from a worker’s pocket is a pound that could have been spent in local shops, cafes and high streets. That’s why the Government’s new Fair Work Agency is so important. It is a chance to come down hard on rogue employers who refuse to do right by their staff.”
It is understood St George’s, Epsom and St Helier maintain that no staff were underpaid as it related to a technical compliance issue where part of their salary for a non tax-deductible “salary sacrifice” (for example, towards childcare) was not counted towards the national minimum wage, even though their gross salary was above the national minimum wage. The hospitals have changed their process and improved compliance.
Four key routes in Cardiff have returned to 30mph speed limits following a public consultation
Several key routes in Cardiff have returned to 30mph(Image: John Myers)
A number of busy roads in Cardiff have officially reverted back to 30mph after it was announced they would go from 20mph to 30mph 18 months ago.
In March 2025, Cardiff Council announced that four main routes would see their speed limits changed after the Welsh Government gave local councils more flexibility to assess specific routes following a review of the default 20mph initiative.
Sections of Newport Road, Western Avenue, Ocean Way and Hadfield Road have all now returned to their original speed limits after legally required Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) were completed.
Which roads have reverted to 30mph?
All of Newport Road except for a section which runs outside St Illtyd’s Catholic School. The road has four lanes for the majority and a bus corridor between Cardiff and Newport, allowing it to revert to 30mph.
A section of Western Avenue west of the Taff River Bridge up to the junction with Cardiff and Llandaff Road. The council decided there are enough pedestrian crossings and significant separation between carriageways and footways to allow a return to 30mph.
From Beignon Close to Rover Way. As the area is mainly non-residential and carries a lot of traffic to the Link Road the speed limit has changed.
The section between the junction with Leckwith Road and Penarth Road. The road has changed as it is also mainly industrial and feeds onto both Leckwith and Penarth Road, both of which have 30mph limits.
After the Welsh Government gave councils more autonomy over individual roads, Cardiff Council conducted a four-month consultation asking residents which roads should be considered to revert back to 30mph.
The review and ‘listening exercise’ involved the public, bus companies, local councillors, MPs, MSs and other city stakeholders .Following the consultation which was carried out between April and the end of August 2024, the council received 933 requests for roads to be considered for a return to 30mph.
Cardiff Council has been approached for comment.
Anyone who knew Damien Lujan would have said he was careful with money.
The 36-year-old California father always kept a close eye on the family finances, making sure his four children had everything they needed before indulging in anything unnecessary.
So when he went shopping for his children’s winter clothes in 2024 and suddenly blew $900 on outfits for himself, his wife Yolanda knew something wasn’t right.
Then came the Candy Crush obsession.
The hugely popular puzzle game is free to download, but encourages players to make in-app purchases that help them progress – and there have been numerous reports over the years of players spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on it.
And Damien, who had previously shown little interest in such things, suddenly became glued to his phone – and, shockingly, racked up more than $1,000 in spending on Candy Crush in a single month.
But more disturbing was the change in his personality.
The usually calm and level-headed father began flying into rages over the smallest things, at one point berating his children because he couldn’t find the television remote.
Damien Lujan (pictured with his wife Yolanda) never spent money on himself. But sudden impulse spending on clothes and Candy Crush was one of the first signs of a deadly brain condition
‘I had to start taking the kids everywhere with me so they weren’t home alone with him,’ Yolanda said. ‘His behavior was so out of character.’
At first, there was no obvious reason for the transformation, but then Yolanda noticed a slight tremor in Damien’s hand. He had also begun dragging his right foot when he walked.
She persuaded him to see a neurologist and, after a battery of brain scans and genetic tests in 2025, he received a devastating explanation for everything that had happened.
Damien had Huntington’s Disease-Like 2, or HDL2 – a rare inherited brain disorder that progressively destroys nerve cells in the brain.
It is closely linked to Huntington’s disease itself, a devastating genetic condition that gradually robs patients of their ability to control their movements, think clearly and, eventually, carry out everyday tasks independently.
The damage is particularly severe in areas of the brain involved in movement, memory, mood and decision-making.
As the disease progresses, patients can develop involuntary jerking movements, muscle stiffness and problems walking, speaking and swallowing. There is currently no cure and symptoms typically worsen over many years.
Huntington’s is caused by a faulty gene that can be passed from parent to child – and anyone with an affected parent has a 50 percent chance of inheriting it.
Around 41,000 Americans are living with Huntington’s disease, while another 200,000 are at risk of inheriting it, according to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America.
Studies suggest the number of people living with the condition may have risen over recent decades – although researchers believe this may largely reflect better genetic testing and diagnosis, as well as patients living longer with the disease.
HDL2 is far rarer. It produces symptoms so similar to Huntington’s that doctors cannot reliably distinguish between the two on symptoms alone, but it is caused by a different genetic mutation and has predominantly been identified in people with African ancestry. That also means patients with Huntington’s-like symptoms can test negative for the better-known condition.
And, like Huntington’s, HDL2 is inherited – meaning each of Damien and Yolanda’s four children has a 50 percent chance of having it.
‘My biggest fear is that our children test positive and there is no treatment or cure,’ Yolanda said.
The disease can also damage frontal regions of the brain involved in judgment, inhibition and impulse control, meaning changes in personality and behavior can emerge alongside – or even before – the more recognizable problems with movement.
For Damien, that may explain the reckless spending and sudden flashes of anger that initially left his family bewildered.
In 2018, Damien was medically discharged from the military after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Soon after, Yolanda said, his personality began to change
Yolanda said Damien, who was normally calm and level-headed, would snap at his four children and blame them for minor inconveniences such as misplacing the remote
‘That wasn’t Damien – that was the disease,’ Yolanda said.
Experts say Damien’s experience highlights an often overlooked feature of Huntington’s and related disorders – personality, psychiatric and cognitive changes can appear years before the movement problems more commonly associated with the disease.
Research involving more than 5,000 Huntington’s patients found more than four in ten experienced at least one psychiatric or cognitive symptom before developing problems with movement.
These can include irritability, depression, impulsive behavior and difficulties with judgment and concentration – problems that can wreak havoc on relationships and careers long before families realize a neurological disease may be responsible.
Experts have even identified losing the ability to hold down a job as one of the early ways Huntington’s can begin to disrupt a patient’s life.
Looking back, Yolanda believes the first signs that something was wrong may have appeared years earlier.
In 2018, Damien was medically discharged from the military after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.
Soon afterwards, Yolanda said, his personality began to change.
At times he became so difficult to live with that Yolanda considered ending their marriage – never imagining there might be a disease contributing to his behavior.
‘At one point, before his diagnosis, we were really close to separating because he wasn’t putting the family first,’ she said.
‘It became difficult for him to hold a job and he always had excuses of why he had to quit. I had no idea what was really going on.’
Even getting an answer proved difficult. Damien initially tested negative for Huntington’s disease three times before doctors eventually discovered he had the far rarer HDL2.
By then, Yolanda said, his cognitive decline was so severe that when doctors broke the news over the phone, he struggled to understand what they were telling him.
‘The first thing that went through Damien’s mind was that he was dying,’ she said. ‘Mine was the kids. My sweet babies were at risk.’
The couple eventually sat their four children down together and explained that their father’s brain was ‘sick’ – and that it could sometimes make him angry, cause him to move more slowly or make everyday tasks more difficult.
For now, Yolanda has decided not to have the children tested, saying they are still too young to fully understand – or cope with – what a positive result could mean.
Lujan’s children each have a 50 percent chance of getting Huntington’s disease, but Yolanda said she does not plan to get them tested yet while they are still young
Yolanda said she is hoping to raise awareness of Huntington’s disease and wider genetic screening
Yolanda is now sharing her family’s story in the hope that patients in this position are investigated for rarer Huntington’s-like disorders rather than assuming a negative Huntington’s test means they are in the clear.
‘I can’t help but wonder if there are more families like ours that tested negative for Huntington’s and think they are free from the disease,’ she said.
‘I hope that one day there are treatments or a cure.’
Today, Damien can no longer walk down his own street alone because he may not be able to find his way home. He has stopped driving and working, and can no longer safely manage the family’s finances, prepare his own meals or reliably remember to take his medication.
Instead, Yolanda has become her husband’s full-time caregiver – while continuing to raise their four children.
‘I’m caregiver, wife, mom and decision-maker,’ she said. ‘It all falls to me now, and that’s extremely hard.
‘Damien had always been the life of the party, but now his independence has gone.’
Doctors have told the family Damien could live for another ten to 20 years from the onset of his symptoms, meaning his condition is expected to continue deteriorating over many years.
For Yolanda, that has made preserving memories of the husband and father he was before the disease took hold all the more important.
‘Damien was so smart and annoyingly athletic. He was great at everything. Most importantly, he loved being a dad,’ she said.
‘I try to keep those memories alive for my kids.’
Train passengers have criticised the conditions in what they have described as ‘dangerously overcrowded’ trains
The train was already packed before it got to Cardiff(Image: Jo Kiernan)
Passengers have slammed what they say are dangerously overcrowded trains between Wales and London. One traveller on a Great Western Rail service from Cardiff Central to Paddington has shared a photo of her carriage with people crammed standing in the aisles without seats.
Jo Kiernan said the 16.21 to London Paddington on Bank Holiday Monday was already full when it arrived at Cardiff. Most passengers getting on at Cardiff had to stand all the way to Reading.
Posting on X she added that it was not the first time she had travelled on an overcrowded GWR service to Paddington. She said GWR should be “ashamed” at its failure to run a good service to passengers.
“You ought to be ashamed of yourselves GW. Train from Cardiff to London is five carriages instead of 10 and there are far too many people standing and crammed into the doorways. It is dangerous and the second time it has happened to me in four days.”
GWR replied on X that safety of passengers was a priority and it would not run an unsafe service.
“Our trains are designed to accommodate standing passengers,” GWR said.
But Jo pointed out that “given the price we pay for your tickets we deserve a better service than standing for two hours.”
Her post on X garnered a flurry of replies from similarly frustrated passengers who had had similar experiences on overcrowded services run but GWR and other rail operators.
Some people replied that they thought anyone made to stand should get 50% off their ticket. Others said there should be compensation for overcrowded trains. Some people complained that reservations made on the Cardiff to Paddington service are not always honoured either.
A GWR spokesperson said: “We’re sorry to customers travelling between Cardiff and London who experienced a busier train than usual.
“This service ran with five coaches instead of the planned ten because of a fault affecting coupling with the other carriages in Swansea – which meant we were unable to provide the full-length train in time.”
“We understand how frustrating this is and we’re sorry for the inconvenience caused. Customers who held a valid seat reservation but were unable to use it are entitled to compensation under our Seat Guarantee scheme, and we’d encourage anyone affected to contact our customer support team.”
GWR said it runs around 30 services each way, every day between Cardiff and London Paddington.
Children as young as six are suffering mental health crises and turning to A&E for help after failing to get care elsewhere, damning new figures reveal.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said it is ‘deeply alarming’ that record numbers of youngsters are being left to descend into such severe distress and a ‘scandal’ that many are then forced to wait days in hospital waiting for care.
Its analysis reveals the number of children attending emergency departments in England after reaching ‘crisis point’ has soared by more than a third in seven years.
Meanwhile, there has been a three-fold increase in these patients facing ‘extremely long’ waits in A&E – including hundreds waiting for more than three days.
The RCPCH figures come ahead of a Government-commissioned review into ADHD, autism and mental health services, which is expected to be published imminently.
In 2025, 75,491 patients aged six to 17 attended emergency departments in England with a recorded mental health concern, up from 55,525 in 2019, according to RCPCH analysis of NHS England data released under freedom of information laws.
This represents a 36 per cent rise in mental health-related A&E attendances among children since 2019.
The rise has been fastest among children aged six to nine – with A&E attendances due to mental health concern ballooning by 62 per cent among this age group, from 3,870 in 2019 to 6,269 in 2025.
The number of children attending emergency departments in England after reaching ‘crisis point’ has soared by more than a third in seven years
The children’s doctors said this is ‘particularly worrying given the vulnerable nature of young children’s neurodevelopment and the potential of suffering for those children longer term without early intervention’.
The number of children and young people staying more than 12 hours in A&E rose from 1,964 in 2019 to 6,235 in 2025.
And the number waiting three or more days for appropriate mental health support and a safe place to be discharged to rose from 55 to 338.
RCPCH warned that A&Es are not designed to meet the needs of children and young people in a mental health crisis.
It has called on the Government to use the upcoming Mental Health Strategy to focus on prevention and improved access to early support so fewer children reach crisis point.
Dr Sam Jones, officer for mental health at RCPCH, said: ‘Behind every one of these figures is a child or young person in distress, and a family who didn’t know where else to turn.
‘Emergency departments are a vital safety net, but they were never designed to be a place where children in mental health crisis wait for days at a time.
‘Our health system is under mounting pressure.
Dr Ronny Cheung, RCPCH officer for health services, said the findings ‘must be a wake-up call for Government’.
‘More children are reaching crisis point, and when they do, they are waiting longer, often far longer, to get the help they need despite the best efforts of paediatricians to care for these children.
‘This is a national crisis that will only get worse without urgent intervention from government and NHS leaders.
‘No child should be spending 12 hours or more in A&E let alone days to weeks while they wait for the right support. The scandal has to end.’
Dr Ronny Cheung, RCPCH officer for health services, added: ‘This must be a wake-up call for Government.
‘The growing number of children reaching crisis point with their mental health is deeply alarming, particularly among younger children.
‘Without urgent action to provide support earlier, we risk storing up serious problems for the future, including more young people falling out of education, employment and training, where poor mental health is already a major driver.
‘Tackling children’s mental health must be at the heart of any plan to improve life chances and opportunity.
‘The Prime Minister and Health Secretary must urgently set out how they plan to address the crisis.’
Gemma Byrne, from mental health charity Mind, said: ‘A&E can be a frightening environment for anyone in mental health crisis, let alone a child.
‘Making them spend more than 12 hours there is simply unacceptable.
‘The fact that children and young people are presenting at A&E for their mental health in the first place shows they aren’t getting the support they need early enough.
‘The current system, where many mental health services only provide support when young people are considered ‘unwell enough’ to qualify, clearly isn’t working.
‘We need to shift to a model of same-day open access mental health support, when anyone who needs help can get quality care straight away.’
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘No child should have to reach crisis point before getting the support they need.
‘That’s why we’re making it easier to access mental health support in schools and colleges, and opening more than 150 new mental health facilities, including community centres offering same-day, walk-in support – to help young people get help earlier and closer to home.
‘Later this year, our Mental Health Strategy will set out our long-term plans to build a system that helps people earlier and ensures fewer young people end up needing emergency care.’
