Hewitt promises 10 more psychological therapy centres in England

May 16, 2007

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has announced that 10 more NHS psychological therapy centres will be launched in England for people with anxiety and depression.

Two “demonstration” psychological therapies centres in Doncaster and Newham, London, have already been running as part of the government's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme.

Ms Hewitt has now promised a further £2m for 10 further therapy centres which will seek to recruit psychological therapists and counsellors

Ms Hewitt said: "The demonstration sites are showing early signs that if you provide quick access to therapy services, the time that patients are ill is reduced and individuals are better able regain their independence - for example by getting or keeping a job."

Once funds have been allocated to service providers, the government says the new therapy centres should be up and running by September.

See also:
Nov 10, 2006: NHS failing on psychological therapies, claim charities - government announces, however, that new psychological therapies service has been used by 1,000 people in three months

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Better to have a counsellor in every GP surgery

Comment from: Jean Johnston, writer, Helensburgh, Scotland. thecairn.com
Date: May 17, 2007

Appointments regarding depression and anxiety are only second to sore throats in requests to see GPs. As talking therapies/counselling are recognised as 50% of the treatment for such conditions along with other forms mental distress perhaps it would be more efficient to have funding in place so that all GP surgeries could provide a resident counsellor. As well as being of benefit to patients it would also relieve GPs from the time consuming-demands such appointments require.

£2million is not a great deal of money for such an important role as talking therapy centres and it is crucial that those employed are of a calibre that will be of benefit to those they treat.

We all know that there are good plumbers and bad plumbers - the same applies to psychotherapists and counsellors and all are capable of doing great damage.

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