Thousands of people suffering from mental health conditions had to wait three months for NHS psychological care, a study has revealed.
Self-help charity Mind says the statistics are ‘worrying’ and long gaps between sessions with therapists can have a ‘detrimental impact’ on a person’s recovery.
NHS Digital figures reveal 3,120 people in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) area waited months for second therapy appointments between February 2018 and January 2019.
A further 4,355 people faced delays between 28 and 90 days and 28 per cent of patients had their second treatment session within 12 months.
A spokesman for the Royal College of Psychiatrists, which co-authored the guidance for NHS England’s Improved Access to Psychological Therapy programme, says more needs to be done to help alleviate waiting times for patients.
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