A TEAM of locum psychiatrists have been drafted in to help solve a staffing crisis within a vital mental health service for children.

Double the number of clinical experts are set to begin work at Barrow's troubled Camhs clinic, in Fairfield Lane, from tomorrow.

They are being tasked with dealing with a hefty backlog of cancelled appointments which built up after the service was left without access to a single paediatric psychiatrist for a fortnight following national changes to the amount of tax they must pay.

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Bosses within Cumbria's Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service are now pledging that affected families will be offered a new appointment with a clinical psychiatrist - consultants who specialise in complex mental health conditions - within the next four to five weeks.

Dr Raj Verma, associate medical director at the Cumbria Partnership NHS Trust, who has now assumed temporary leadership of the Camhs service, said he hoped the move would help provide cover for the area until permanent reinforcements arrive in post later this year.

"There is a national shortage of clinical psychiatrists, though recruitment is particularly difficult for posts in Cumbria, and this has been worsened by the changes to the tax rules," he said.

"We had a gap of around a month - so to fill that we will put an extra consultant in place in Barrow to see all cancelled appointments that have built up."

The Evening Mail exclusively revealed last week that more than 20 appointments for children with moderate to severe mental health needs had been cancelled because of an exodus of temporary psychiatrists from the service.

Just one session per week for urgent referrals was being offered in Barrow per week after staff based elsewhere in the county offered to work on their days off to boost cover.

National guidelines state all children urgently referred to the service should be seen within 48 hours.

Repeat prescriptions for children taking medication also had to be dealt with by clinicians from East Cumbria.

The workforce crisis led to fears the situation could have tragic consequences for a child suffering an acute psychiatric episode if they were not able to access the help they needed on time.

However, it is hoped a permanent solution to the long term recruitment issue is now on the horizon with the appointment of three qualified clinical psychiatrists from India, who each specialise in children's mental health.

It is hoped they will be able to travel to the region and begin work this summer.

Dr Verma added: "We hope the new appointments will solve the recruitment issue permanently as well as providing continuity of care for children and their families.

"In the meantime, anyone who has had their appointment cancelled should be seen within the next four to five weeks.

"If necessary, we may extend the additional cover for a longer period to make sure everyone is seen."

Barrow's Camhs service has come under repeated fire in recent years following the deaths of two children from south Cumbria; 10-year-old Harry Hucknall, from Dalton, and 15-year-old Helena Farrell, from Kendal.

An Evening Mail investigation launched in 2015 also uncovered lengthy waiting times for children referred to Camhs, rocketing caseloads and falling budgets.

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