Issue - meetings

To consider a report updating the Committee on the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme.

The Committee considered a report on the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) scheme.  The programme had been in place in Western Cheshire and Central and Eastern Cheshire since September 2008, which had both been chosen as Wave 1 sites in the initial rollout.  National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines had been followed that recommended a stepped care approach to treating common mental health problems:

Step 1 – Watchful waiting, usually carried out by the GP;

Step 2 – psycho-education, including telephone treatment and computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (cCBT) for people with mild psychological problems;

Step 3 – time limited CBT and time limited counselling for people with moderate psychological problems;

Step 4 – longer term interventions (up to 26 sessions) for people with complex problems;

Step 5 – psychological support to people requiring secondary care mental health services.

CWP had employed 7 new High Intensity Therapy Workers in West Cheshire and 21 in Central and Eastern Cheshire.  These workers provided high intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy interventions at Step 3.  Both areas had Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners (PWP) who provided low intensity CBT interventions at Step 2 (7 in West and 14 in Central and Eastern Cheshire).  New staff had joined existing primary care mental health teams to provide an integrated primary care psychological therapy service for Steps 2 to 4. 

Central and Eastern Cheshire were also one of 12 regional pilot sites for the IAPT Employment Advisory Services to target people who were in work but struggling due to anxiety/depression or who were on sick leave from work.

Western Cheshire IAPT had completed and discharged 134 clients and returned 56 clients to work, waiting times for the service averaged between 4 – 6 weeks.  In Central and Eastern Cheshire over 2000 clients had completed treatment and 233 people had been taken off sick pay and benefits, there were over 1000 people currently on the waiting list for the service.

Wirral was not an official IAPT site but the Talking Changes services commissioned by Wirral PCT worked to the principles of IAPT.  The service received an average of 170 referrals a week and saw clients within Steps 2 – 4.

RESOLVED:  That the update report be noted and a further update on waiting times be made to the Mid Point meeting.