Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT)
There is currently a national focus on Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT), following the NICE recommendation of a stepped model of care for people with common mental health problems.
Psychological therapy is recommended for patients with the following conditions:
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Anxiety
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Depression
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Post traumatic stress
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Obsessional compulsive thinking
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Social phobia
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Generalised anxiety
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Panic
The age group is from 18 years old upwards. There is no upper age limit.
The aim of IAPT is to help patients achieve improvement through early interventions of limited duration. This, in turn, may either avoid or limit the need for medication, time off work and unemployment.
The evidence to date is that more than 70 per cent of patients report improvement.
Pilot sites in the UK, through routine collection of outcome measures such as PHQ9 & GAD7, showed IAPT services resulted in:
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Better health and wellbeing
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High levels of satisfaction with the service received
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More choice and better access to clinically effective evidence-based services
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More people staying employed and able to participate in the activities of daily living
Current status of the service in Kent and Medway
The new model of care, with its focus on short-term interventions leading to swift improvement or recovery, represents a significant change to the services that have generally been provided both nationally and in Kent and Medway.
There were a number of local pilot projects in 2008/09 which proved successful and provided valuable information for both commissioners and providers.
Since 2008 the PCTs in Kent and Medway have recruited 61 therapists to offer the new model of care.
Further recruitment of psychological therapy trainees is planned by the PCTs in early 2010. In addition, the PCTs will facilitate access to top-up training for established therapists, as available, to meet the new service requirements.
However, it must be emphasised that this is a developing service and, although the intention is to provide a consistent, equitable service, it may take several years for capacity to match demand.
Providers of the service
The PCTs have commissioned an IAPT service from KMPT, KCA and Counselling Team Ltd (the split is shown below) with effect from 1 October 2009. This will work alongside the existing primary care psychological therapy services.
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Eastern and Coastal
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Shepway: Counselling Team Limited
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All other areas: KCA, and KMPT
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Medway: KCA & KMPT
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West Kent: KMPT
