Published on: 9th December 2015
Service users suffering from anxiety and depression in Lincolnshire received some of the most effective treatment in the country last year, according to findings in a new report.
A 76.8 per cent improvement rate was recorded for service users in the Grantham and Sleaford areas - the highest in the country - with the rest of Lincolnshire seeing a rate of between 67 to 77 per cent. The national average was 60.8 per cent.
The figures are included in the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), Psychological Therapies annual report, and show that alongside significant improvements in their mental health symptoms, people in Lincolnshire waited less than the government’s target of 28 days before being seen by a counsellor or therapist during 2014/15.
NHS treatment for anxiety and depression is delivered by Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s (LPFT) steps2change service, which covers the entire county.
steps2change offers a ‘talking therapies’ programme which allows people over the age of 16, who are feeling stressed, anxious, low in mood or depressed, easy access to a variety of different psychological treatments.
Patients can either be referred by their local GP or can make a self-referral if they would like to be assessed.
Team Coordinator for LPFT’s steps2change in the Grantham and Sleaford area, Claire Hancox, said she was very proud of her teams, and the county as a whole for achieving the most improvement for service users.
It is reassuring for the people of Lincolnshire to know that they are receiving such effective treatment. To gain national recognition is an incredible achievement and testament to the hard work and dedication of the staff.
The Grantham and Sleaford teams received a total of 2,518 referrals for treatment last year, with Lincolnshire’s steps2change as a whole receiving 16,291.
LPFT’s Divisional Manager for Adult Community Mental Health Services, Rob Harvey, said:
We will continue to improve to meet the needs of our service users and will do this by building on what is undoubtedly a very positive foundation.
Allan Kitt, Chief Officer at South West Lincolnshire CCG, who commission mental health services for the county said:
I believe this demonstrates just what a great difference talking therapies can make in people’s lives. It is great that the people of South West Lincolnshire are benefiting from the programme in a tangible way.
