17.09.14
Mental health patients waiting ‘unacceptably’ long times for treatment
Some people with mental health problems are waiting more than a year to access psychological therapies, with many contemplating or attempting suicide in the intervening time.
In a survey of more than 2,000 people who have tried to access therapies in the last two years, four in 10 had to wait more than three months between referral and assessment.
Once assessed, most people started therapy within three months, yet a third (32%) had to wait longer. One in 10 of those surveyed said they waited more than a year.
While waiting for therapy to start, 40% of patients have harmed themselves, two-thirds have experienced suicidal thoughts and one in six attempted suicide.
Paul Farmer, who is chair of the We Need to Talk coalition, which conducted the investigation, and chief executive of mental health charity Mind, said: “Our investigation shows that providers, frontline staff and those who use services are all united in the view that mental health services aren’t currently set up to cope with demand.
“We know that in some parts of the country investment in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) and other models has transformed lives as people have been able to access the help they need when they need it. But far too many are facing unacceptably long waits or are struggling to even get a referral. This simply isn’t good enough.”
An analysis by the coalition of the latest Health and Social Care Information Centre data from CCGs also showed enormous variation in both referrals and waiting times across England.
For example, in the last quarter of 2013-14, several CCGs reported fewer than 100 new referrals for talking treatments, such as CBT, counselling and group therapy, while others reported up to 5,400 in the same period.
Care minister Norman Lamb MP stated that it is “unacceptable” for anyone with mental health problems to have to wait more than a year for treatment.
“More people than ever before are getting talking therapies thanks to our £400m investment. Nationally, 62% people referred for talking therapies are treated within 28 days but we know there is more to do, which is why we’re introducing access and waiting time standards for mental health from next year,” he said.
But shadow public health minister Luciana Berger MP said the findings show the extent of the pressure on the UK’s mental health services.
“It is appalling that people are waiting so long for psychological therapies their conditions are becoming much worse or they are forced to pay for private treatment to get the help that they need” she added.
Faye Wilson, chair of the British Association of Social Workers’ mental health forum, noted that IAPT had helped people with “mild and moderate” needs get help that wasn’t available in the past but it had become clear that there were “extensive delays” in people accessing services.
“People and their families can be left in turmoil,” she said, adding “it’s not acceptable because we know these services can be effective and make a difference. This is more evidence that we have pressurised services right across the system.”
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