This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Encourage more mental health therapists in GP practices
New guidance has been drawn up detailing plans to encourage doctors to place mental health therapists in practice surgeries to bring parity to physical and mental health.
NHS England say that the new therapists will be integrated into primary care teams and focus on common mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression.
At present, nine out of 10 adults with mental health problems are supported in primary care and broadening the range of services for patients means local health services are better equipped to deal with patients’ physical and mental health needs.
Under the guidance, in-house mental health therapists are expected to be full members of the primary healthcare team, meaning they should receive self-referrals from patients, attend practice meetings, provide specialist advice and link with clinicians across other mental and physical health services on behalf of the patient and practice.
Claire Murdoch, NHS England’s national director for mental health said: “Joining up talking therapy services in primary care settings is another big step forward for our patients and a key plank in putting mental health at the centre of the long-term plan for the NHS. We are on track to deliver 3,000 therapists in primary care, with over 800 in surgeries at the end of last year and this handy guidance should convince those practices that are yet to take the plunge of the benefits.”
Dr Nikita Kanani, NHS England’s acting director of primary care, added: “General practice is the front door of the NHS. We continue to support the expansion of the workforce so patients have access to a range of different health professionals so that we can better support both their physical and mental health needs.”
Many parts of the country have already pressed ahead with plans to transform mental health and primary care services this way, including in Sheffield, Calderdale and Cambridge and Peterborough.
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