WIREDGOV

An additional £4 million will be invested to help reduce waiting times for adult psychological therapies (PT).

 The funding will allow Boards to recruit additional mental health professionals enabling more adults requiring PT to be seen. It will also allow practitioners – where appropriate - to use virtual technology to reach people in more remote locations, or those not able to attend in person. 

The funding forms part of the £120 million Recovery and Renewal Fund.

Mental Wellbeing Minister Kevin Stewart announced the funding during a visit to meet Psychological Therapies staff at Shotts Health Centre in North Lanarkshire.

He said:

“Across Scotland, talented and dedicated staff trained in psychological therapies provide high quality care and are helping more people than ever, despite the substantial increase in demand placed on the service by the pandemic. I want to further support the service so we can increase the speed at which people receive their care.

“Long waits are unacceptable and we are committed to meeting the standard that 90% of patients start treatment within 18 weeks of referral. That is why we are investing an additional £4 million in mental health professionals trained in applied psychological therapies who will be instrumental in reducing pressure on the system.

“This £4 million funding can make a real difference. You only have to look at the great work being done here in North Lanarkshire to see what a positive impact psychological therapy can have on people’s lives.”

Background

Health boards were allocated £5 million from the Recovery and Renewal Fund in May. This £4 m is additional to that, bringing the total to £9m this year.