25.11.15
Stark CCG variation means some regions only helping 18% of therapy patients
There is stark variation in the amount of patients that recover from a mental health disorder after treatment under the IAPT programme depending on their CCG catchment, HSCIC figures have revealed.
The IAPT, or Improving Access to Psychological Therapies, is an NHS programme that offers NICE-stamped interventions for treating people with depression and anxiety disorders across England.
But the programme is not working uniformly nationwide, with some CCGs reporting a recovery rate of 18.8% against rates above 69% in other catchments during 2014-15.
The national average recovery rate of 44.8% also suggests that these poles are not outliers, with many CCGs recording figures near the two extremes. Only 57 of 211 CCGs were able to meet or exceed the 50% recovery target.
NHS Stafford and Surrounds CCG, for example, has a recovery rate of 67.3% (415 of 620 referrals) and NHS Chiltern CCG a rate of 61.6% (1,230 of almost 2,000 referrals).
On the other hand, NHS East Staffordshire CCG had a recovery rate of 20.9% (70 of 340 referrals) and NHS Blackburn with Darwen CCG a rate of 29.9% (425 of 1,415 referrals).
But even considering the nationwide average rate of recovery, only 60% of these patients actually showed reliable improvement after finishing treatment.
The average waiting time from referral to the first treatment appointment is also varying greatly, with some CCGs boasting an average waiting time of 6.7 days. In other regions, mental health patients can be forced to wait over 124 days for an appointment.
On average, patients waited more than a month for an appointment.
Dominic Gair, HSCIC’s responsible statistician, said the regional differences highlighted in the report could enable commissioners and care providers to review access to psychological therapies in their areas, using findings to plan services in the future.
But the figures also help to make the case for greater mental health funding, which many healthcare experts consider has been historically put on the backburner.
The mental health budget only accounts for 10% of the overall NHS cash pot currently, despite being responsible for more than 20% of the burden of disease, according to shadow mental health minister Luciana Berger MP. Councils also only invest 1% of their budgets in preventative mental health initiatives.
Last year, it was revealed that some mental health patients had to wait more than a year to access psychological therapies, with many contemplating suicide in the intervening time.
And thousands of people with mental ill health that require access to inpatient care are often forced to travel more than 20km for an available bed, while many children are being kept out of the healthcare system due to its high clinical thresholds.
More details on mental health investment are expected in today’s Spending Review and as part of recommendations from the upcoming mental health taskforce report.