Talking therapy targets missed in England

Nearly six in ten clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are failing to ensure targets are met for talking therapies

The procedures are used to help people with common mental health conditions such as anxiety disorder and depression.

Charity Mind is now warning NHS England figures show nearly six in ten CCGs (57%) are failing to provide talking therapies for the target 15.8% of people identified in a local area as being able to benefit from them.

'Unacceptable'

The target is set to be raised to 25% by 2021 and Mind’s director of external relations, Sophie Corlett, said the current trend is ‘unacceptable’, warning ‘failing to meet this target doesn’t bode well’ for the planned increase in standards.

‘Thanks to anti-stigma campaigns and movements like Heads Together and Times to Change, there’s less of a taboo when it comes to mental health, but as more people come forward and seek help, it’s important that quality timely services are in place to meet increasing demand. 

‘For too long, people accessing mental health services have not had the same right to timely treatment that we all expect if we have a physical health problem.’

CCGs were also found to be missing recovery rate targets for talking therapies, with only around half (52%) meeting the national benchmark of 50%.

In other news

• Urgent call for people from the African-Caribbean community to join blood donor list
• Former whistleblower urges nurses to share their stories of raising care concerns