Moray Integration Joint Board (MIJB) has noted progress by Health & Social Care Moray (HSCM) in strengthening and stabilising mental health services in Moray, while emphasising the need for greater urgency and pace to deliver meaningful improvement for people who have experienced long-standing gaps in support.
Work undertaken over the past year is beginning to ease long-standing pressures on GP practices, where clinicians have for some time been supporting adults and children with complex mental health needs without consistent access to specialist services.
Board members acknowledged individuals and families have been waiting too long for services that adequately meet their mental health needs.
The update report, presented to the Board on Thursday 27 November, outlined actions taken since concerns were escalated earlier this year about gaps in mental health service provision and the resulting strain on primary care.
While the Board recognised that people are not yet experiencing the level of improvement they need, the report highlighted a number of foundational developments intended to stabilise services and create the conditions for more consistent, accessible and person-centred mental health support.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioners based in GP practices provided 255 appointments in August 2025, with their role evolving to support earlier triage and faster responses to mental health concerns.
Performance within some aspects of the Psychological Service continues to improve with 100% of Secondary Care referrals meeting national waiting time targets in September 2025. However, pressure remains on the Primary Care Psychological Service with only 15% of referrals meeting the national standard and is an area recognised as needing significant improvement.
A review of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment pathway is underway to make it easier to access earlier support. Individuals with ADHD and co-existing mental health needs continue to be prioritised within specialist services.
Key progress highlighted in the update included:
- Strengthened leadership: A new Clinical Director for Moray Mental Health Services (Adult and Older Adult) has been in post since August 2025 and is working closely with the GP Clinical Lead to strengthen links between Primary and Secondary Care.
- Stabilised consultant psychiatry cover: Consultant Psychiatry cover for Adult and Older Adult Mental Health Services is now in place across all areas of Moray following a period of disruption earlier in the summer. Efforts are underway to secure one of the current locum consultants in a permanent position.
- Enhanced support for GPs: A new protocol is being developed to enable GPs to seek psychiatry advice via a dedicated email system, helping reduce unnecessary referrals and streamline processes.
- Improved on-call cover: Out-of-hours consultant on-call cover has significantly improved with support from colleagues at Royal Cornhill Hospital in Aberdeen.
- Greater presence in Primary Care: Consultant Psychiatrists and Community Mental Health Teams are increasingly working within GP settings and with multi-disciplinary teams, leading to more timely responses and increased face-to-face appointments.
- Targeted recruitment: Recruitment is underway for two Senior Advanced Nurse Practitioner posts (Adult and Older Adult) to strengthen the consultant-led model and enhance Community Mental Health Team involvement in Primary Care, aligning with best practice across Scotland.
- Commissioned services fully operational: Three Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH) contracts โ the Distress Brief Intervention Service, Intensive Recovery and Community Support Service, and Suicide Prevention Service โ are fully staffed and delivering support across Moray.
The Board noted that, despite important progress, mental health services in Moray continue to face significant challenges consistent with regional and national trends. Workforce recruitment and retention, rising demand, and financial pressures remain areas of ongoing risk.
Dennis Robertson, Chair of MIJB, said: โWe know that too many people in Moray have been waiting a long time for the mental health support they need, and that improvements have not always been felt on the ground.
โThis report shows we are beginning to stabilise services and strengthen clinical leadership, but that is not the end point. The Board expects continued urgency and pace, and we are committed to ensuring our plans lead to real, meaningful improvement for the people, families and communities who rely on mental health services.โ
The Board will receive a detailed report on the wider Mental Health and Wellbeing Delivery Plan for Moray at its meeting on 26 March 2026. The plan sets out a multi-year programme of service transformation aimed at improving access, strengthening community support, and reducing the reliance on acute mental health services.
