CAMHS Unscheduled Care Service

CAMHS Unscheduled Care Service (USC) GP Referrals

CAMHS USC is an emergency mental health assessment service. It is based at the Melville Unit, Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP) but covers all areas of NHS Lothian. It is a nurse-led service. In order for an assessment to be carried out by CAMHS USC, the young person must attend hospital – predominantly this will be either an Emergency Department or the Melville Unit, RHCYP.

CAMHS USC is not a replacement for CAMHS outpatient services. Where a young person is being seen by CAMHS out-patients and they present to GP services, within office hours, the duty clinician in their locality team should be contacted to discuss a plan. Young people who are concerning but not at immediate risk and not in need of a same day assessment, should be referred to their local CAMHS team.

CAMHS USC is available 7 days per week 7.30 am – 8.30 pm and overnight Saturday – Tuesday. Out with these times, emergency assessments are carried out by the doctor on call for CAMHS. They can be contacted through NHS Lothian switchboard, on 0131 536 1000 for Edinburgh, East and Midlothian, or 01506 523000, for St John’s Hospital in West Lothian.

CAMHS USC is available for:

Children and Young People are who experiencing a mental health crisis and require an emergency mental health assessment. The focus from CAMHS USC will specifically be around risk assessment and safety planning.

Presentations may include:

• Overdose
• Self harm
• Evidence of significant mental illness
• Concern relating to risk of suicide / serious self harm.

What can CAMHS USC provide?

• A comprehensive mental health and risk assessment
• Plan for safety with the young person and parent/carer
• Link with health care providers
• Make onward referrals for longer term support where required
• Short term followup (generally by phone) where required, to ensure and maintain safety.
• Assessment letters will be copied to the GP through TRAK correspondence.

CAMHS USC does not deal with issues relating specifically to medication. For advice regarding this, the locality CAMHS team should be contacted.

CAMHS USC does not assess young people with eating disorder, where the presenting problem is specifically related to disordered eating and/or physical compromise. These young people are seen by the doctor on call for CAMHS.

CM & HT 17/12/25