Improving access to psychological therapies

The focus of this programme is to support local providers to achieve the national improving access to psychological therapies (IAPT) key performance indicators, with improved health care outcomes and quality of life of people with anxiety and depression.
Currently approximately 950,000 people per year nationally access IAPT services (16% of local prevalence), and around 60% of these have a course of treatment (approximately 570,000 per year).By 2021 there are plans to achieve a 66% increase in the number of people being seen each year to 1.5million, this expansion of the services also has a focus on working with people with Long Term Conditions (LTC) and/or Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS), an increased us of digitally assisted therapies.  All of this can only be achieved with a significant expansion in the workforce (50%-60%).

Across the East Midlands, clinical commissioning groups’ access rates for improving access to, and recovery as a result of  psychological therapies services varies with some achieving the national standard, but some not.  In addition services and commissioner require support to expand their services.

During 2017 and 2018 a number of shared learning events were provided focussing on key areas of development and improvement such as Long Term Conditions and Old People, the role of the Employment Adviser and Workforce Wellbeing.

Towards the end of 18/19 a successful event was held with a focus on the use of digital therapies in IAPT.  This focus will continue in 19/20 as services need to continue their journey to delivery high quality services in a range of innovative ways to an increasing proportion of the population.

In addition to this the Clinical Network team provide personalised support to CCGs and STPs as they develop and manage their services.

For more information regarding the IAPT work programme please contact: Zoe Boyes, Network Senior Quality Improvement Manager.