Three in four patients not seen within new target time

Data revealed for the first time shows nearly three-quarters of adult patients needing community mental health care are waiting more than four weeks for treatment to start, which is the timeframe that NHS England wants to introduce as a national standard.

Figures shared with HSJ also show two-thirds of children needing community care are waiting more than four weeks from referral to treatment.

In 2021, NHS England proposed a series of new waiting time standards in mental health, including a four-week standard for non-urgent community care.

A lack of new funding, as well as data recording problems, mean the new standards have not so far been introduced, and no timeline set for implementation.

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Source: HSJ, 14 March 2023