While we are waiting

The Mental Health Foundation has produced a report into the long waiting times experienced by those waiting for psychological therapy. The report called While we are waiting says that patients can often wait more than 6 months for treatment. The report says that mental-health problems, people's relationships and their work situations can all suffer terrible damage while they are waiting for treatment. The report calls for PCTs to

• make psychological therapies available within 3-10 days if urgently needed
• to tell patients about the different kinds of treatment available so they can get the right one for them
• to offer weekend and evening appointments for those who can't make it during the day
• make sure that therapy services are sensitive and accessible to children and young people

You can download the full text of the report at

http://www.mind.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/FBC70E3F-15E5-492D-8D53-D38397409DE6/0/WhilewearewaitingJul08.pdf