"Young child in Crisis with No Help"

My child has been on the Neurodevelopmental Service wait list in Lanarkshire from October 2022.  He had been experiencing physical and motor tics, anxiety and sleep issues which exploded.

Was advised we would get no help unless he was suicidal.  A few months later went back to GP who advised he would write to the service  again.  

Letter received  stating this was not an emergency service and to contact Tourette Scotland for help in the meantime.  

Fast forward to now Feb/March 2024.  My childs condition has seriously worsened with all the above plus Tourettic OCD and mental tics with intrusive thoughts.  

This has left him unable to get in and of bed, climb stairs - basically walk more than a few steps without having to carry out complex tics which cause pain in his feet and throat.  He is unable to move and is severely distressed.  He then needs to be carried about the house/outside.  To watch your child go through this is simply unbearable.  

He has been unable to attend school and is a became socially deprived due to this condition.  It shocks me to know that in Scotland there is no clear pathway to diagnosis and no help.  

Contacted GP again to advise how the condition had became so disabling and distressing and going through mental pain trying to suppress these unwanted mental tics.  GP got an Educational Psychologist to speak to me and he said he will write a report but cannot guarantee it will get him seen any sooner.  

What my child is going through on a daily basis is so painful.  If this was happening to an adult they would not be told to wait 3 1/2 years or more so why are children being left.  

My family is in crisis with no real help other than the fantastic charity Tourette Scotland who is supporting us.  If it had not been for the charity I don't know where my family would be.  

This is not living for a young child and to be told you have no supports and to wait years to be seen is unacceptable.  This condition has a high suicide rate and I can see why not only for the child experiencing this but for care givers as the stress and sadness is unbearable.