“We Need to Talk Wales”: New Coalition launches report calling for improved access to psychological therapies

A new coalition of mental health charities, professional organisations and service providers in Wales, including Mind Cymru, says that patients in Wales need better access to psychological therapies. While recognising and welcoming recent Welsh Government investment in this area, the ‘We Need to Talk (Wales)’ coalition is concerned that too many people are still waiting too long to access psychological therapies and do not have enough choice over the type, timing and location of this form of treatment.

The Coalition has published a report which promotes four key priorities in improving access to psychological therapies for patients. The report, launched by the Minister for Social Services and Health, Rebeca Evans AM, says:

People of all ages should have access to psychological therapies within 28 days in both primary and secondary care.

People should be able to make an informed choice about accessing a full range of evidence based psychological therapies.

The views of users should be at the heart of the system – they should be valued, respected and recorded to improve services.

The long term impact of psychological therapies on people’s lives should be measured by Welsh Government.

The report draws on evidence from across the UK and beyond which shows that improved choice and access to evidence based psychological therapies delivers better outcomes for individuals as well as savings to the public purse in health and social security. Programmes such as The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme in England (IAPT) have provided over a million people with access to psychological therapies on the NHS, with research showing that there have been reductions to individual healthcare usage and use of long-term repeat prescriptions.

The cost of mental health problems in Wales is estimated at £7.2bn per year and the National Prescribing Indicators 2015-16 (The Annual Primary Care Prescribing Report) show an average increase of 8.11% of anti-depressant prescriptions over the years 2013/14 to 2014/15, with a rise in all health boards across Wales. Whilst valuing the role medication can play in mental health treatment, the Coalition believes that there should be a greater focus on, and access to, psychological therapies focused on addressing the specific needs in Wales.

The We Need to Talk (Wales) coalition has welcomed the investment made by Welsh Government, and the development of the Wales Psychological Therapies Plan for Adult Mental Health, which aims to improve access to psychological therapies. The Together for Mental Health draft delivery plan for 2016-19 reiterates a 28 day target for interventions in primary care and requires health boards to report on the 26 week referral to treatment target in specialist secondary mental health services for all patients. However, the We Need to Talk (Wales) coalition believes that people in need of primary and secondary mental health services should be able to access psychological therapies within 28 days of a referral request as early intervention improves outcomes.

The Minister for Social Services and Public Health, Rebeca Evans AM said:

“Two years ago, Welsh Government provided a significant funding boost for health boards in order to improve access to psychological therapies. We understand that these interventions can reduce the risks of relapse in people with psychosis or with depression. Our aim is to ensure patients have real choices about all available treatment options and to see these interventions accessible across Wales.”

Chair of the We Need to Talk (Wales) Coalition, Alun Thomas said:

“We represent patients, carers and professionals across Wales who know from experience that talking therapies can be hugely beneficial in the recovery process. There is also widespread evidence that psychological therapies result in significant saving to the public sector in healthcare, tax gains and welfare with benefits felt throughout the NHS. Currently, 50% of people have to wait more than three months after assessment to receive their first therapy session."

"As charities, professional organisations and service providers, we have come together in order to promote both parity of access for patients, regardless of whether they are in primary or secondary care.”

The We Need to Talk (Wales) Coalition has been established to campaign for improved access to psychological therapies for people with mental health problems in Wales. It comprises of the following organisations:

British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy

British Psychoanalytic Council

British Psychological Society

CAIS

National Counselling Society

OCD Action

UK Council for Psychotherapy

Wales Alliance for Mental Health

Bipolar UK

Diverse Cymru

Gofal

Hafal

Mental Health Foundation

Mental Health Matters Wales

Mind Cymru

Samaritans Cymru

http://www.mind.org.uk/media/4982337/wntt-wales-report-eng.pdf