Petition · past parliament · Department of Health and Social Care

Ensure mental health assessments for children are within 4 weeks of GP referral

Closed 7,480 signatures

What the petition asks

The Government should make it a requirement for all NHS Trusts to ensure that the mental health needs of children are assessed within 4 weeks of a referral by a GP, and provide the necessary funding to create capacity for this
If we ensure children receive the support they need during childhood, this should prevent issues going untreated into adulthood.

At present there can be substantial delays to having the mental health needs of a child assessed, even once a referral has been made by a GP.

The Government should create new requirements for NHS Trusts, and provide additional funding, to ensure that mental health assessments for children are within 4 weeks of GP referral.

Timeline

10 Jun 2021 Petition opened for signatures
10 Dec 2021 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 7,480
Status Closed
Department Department of Health and Social Care
Opened 10 Jun 2021
Closed 10 Dec 2021

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.