Nearly a quarter of children (23.4%) needing mental health treatment in Fife had to wait more than 18 weeks, new figures show.
Of the 312 youngsters seeking help from the kingdom’s children and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) between October and December last year, 73 were in limbo beyond the government’s maximum waiting limit.
NHS Tayside saw all but 1.7% of its patients within 18 weeks, according to Scottish Government data.
Monica Lennon, for Scottish Labour, said having 3,333 children across Scotland in 2016 waiting beyond the guarantee time is a “national disgrace”.
The government target demands that 90% of patients are seen within 18 weeks.
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition pointed to Fife as among the five worst-performing health boards in the country as it warned of a “postcode lottery” for treatment.
Maureen Watt, the mental health minister, said the national CAMHS figures had improved two quarters in a row.
She said: “However I’m clear that we must continue to reduce waiting times and I will not be satisfied until our 90% target is met.”
Alex Cole-Hamilton, for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said: “It is a sign of this Scottish Government’s lack of ambition that they are celebrating figures showing most health boards still routinely missing waiting time targets.”