AT least one vulnerable child suffering with mental health issues had to wait more than a year to be seen by a doctor or nurse, it has been revealed.

The revelation has sparked criticism with one leading councillor calling that level of service worse than what could be expected in some of the poorest and most deprived countries in the world.

Chiefs admitted it is unacceptable and have reported marked improvements since the summer to bring waiting times to below the targeted 18 weeks.

Meanwhile, another councillor in the north of the county has called on relationships between the NHS and schools to be more open following a case in which a school in Redditch struggled to help a vulnerable child because a health professional refused to share basic case notes for fear of breaching confidentiality.

We reported last summer that more than 14,000 youngsters are battling conditions such as psychosis and depression, as well as emotional, mood, eating and self-harming disorders.

Data put before Worcestershire County Council’s children and young people overview and scrutiny panel showed at least one child had to wait nearly 60 weeks to be seen last year and committee chairman Councillor Juliet Brunner said: “I think it’s absolutely shocking.

“I’m not sure whether children in the Third World would have to wait that long, but I am really pleased that has changed and is seen to be improving.” Chiefs at Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust said it had been a priority to reduce waiting times and the latest statistics show there has been a significant improvement.

In May, 24 per cent of all referrals were waiting longer than 18 weeks to be seen and there were 595 youngsters on the waiting list.

By December, nobody was waiting longer than 18 weeks and the waiting list had been cut down to 275.

The average waiting time now stands at between five and 10 weeks, or three and nine for children in care. Angela Kirton, children and adolescent mental health services commissioning manager, said: “The aspiration is nobody has to wait at all but in reality we cannot deal with everything that comes in simultaneously.”

Meanwhile, Coun Barry Gandy pressed health chiefs on whether basic case details can be shared with schools for the benefit of a child’s welfare following the incident in Redditch a couple of years ago.

He was told relevant details can and should be shared.