Waiting times for NHS mental health patients
Posted on 6th December 2019
It has recently been published that nearly thousands of patients with mental health problems are left waiting months for treatment on ‘hidden’ NHS waiting lists.The NHS provides a talking therapy service known as Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT). The objective of the programme is to provide evidence-based psychological therapies to those who suffer from conditions such as anxiety, depression, obsessive –compulsive disorder and PTSD.A report by NHS Digital published on 14 November 2019, revealed that 75% of patients who enter the IAPT programme are seen within 6 weeks, which on the face of it seems relatively quick. However, the reality is that patients are left waiting months to enter into regular treatment sessions after their first initial appointment.