Psychological therapies provision: views from primary care

Abstract

Aims and MethodRecent National Health Service (NHS) policy and guidelines support the increased provision of psychological therapies. As secondary care providers of psychological therapies, we carried out a questionnaire study of how our services were perceived by local general practitioners (GPs). All GPs in the borough of Southwark were included.ResultsGeneral practitioners value secondary care psychotherapeutic input across a spectrum of complex diagnostic groups and are interested in further training/education. They also consistently complain about long waiting times and confusion about accessing the various services.Clinical ImplicationsWith increasing interest in and willingness to fund the delivery of psychological therapies, there is the potential for working more effectively across the primary–secondary care divide. However, improved communication between primary and secondary care is essential if the increased commitment at government level is to be translated into a locally effective service.