Hundreds face long waits for mental health treatment in Wigan
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The findings come as a leading staff body for the profession says it is "unacceptable" so many are suffering delays for vital treatment across England.
The NHS' talking therapy service treats patients for common mental health problems like stress, anxiety and depression.
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Hide AdIn the year to November 2022, around 4,675 patients received a second treatment in the former NHS Wigan Borough CCG area – but 290 (6.2 per cent) had to wait more than 90 days from their first one.
This was a rise from 4.1 per cent in the year to November 2019.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists, a staff body, said delaying treatment could "put patients' wellbeing at risk".
Dr Adrian James, the organisation's president, said: “Some patients' mental health may deteriorate if left untreated, which can have a detrimental impact on their quality of life and have potentially life-altering consequences.
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Hide Ad“There is also a danger that long waiting lists will undermine people’s faith in mental health services and discourage them from seeking the support they need.”
He added staff are "working as hard as they can" but are struggling with limited resources and problems with retention and recruitment.
Across England patients are facing lengthy waits for mental health treatment.
The figures show 154,000 people (22.5 per cent) were waiting more than three months between their first and second treatment in the year to November 2022, up from 120,000 (19.2 per cent) over the same period in 2018-19.
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Hide AdMark Rowland, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation charity, said these statistics should come as "no surprise" given the "huge pressures" mental health services are facing.
He urged the Government to prioritise preventative approaches – focused on tackling mental health problems before professional help is needed.
Standards set by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence state 75 per cent of patients should get a first treatment within six weeks.
The figures show services in the former NHS Wigan Borough CCG area were meeting that target in the year to November – with 93.8 per cent of 8,035 patients receiving treatment within six weeks.