Tories failing children's mental health - urgent action needed on staff shortages and funding

"The state of children's mental health services in England is deeply worrying. It is unacceptable that children who have experienced abuse or have diagnosable mental health conditions are being turned away from treatment," said Dr Nick Cott, a Liberal Democrats Newcastle City Councillor who leads on the issue for the Local Government Association.

"The Education Policy Institute's Annual Report on access to child and adolescent mental health services should be a wake-up call for the Conservative government. It shows they are failing children, and they will continue to fail if they do not prioritise child and adolescent mental health services.

"Liberal Democrats would ensure that no child or young person who needs help is turned away from mental health services. We are calling on the Tory government to increase the funding for child and adolescent mental health services and urgently tackle the shortages in mental health staff."