News from our partners: Local health champions want to hear about NHS psychological services
News from our partners Healthwatch Shropshire
Depression and anxiety levels in the county have increased since the start of the pandemic. The Shropshire Primary Care Psychological Therapies Service (also known as IAPT) and Telford IAPT are at the forefront of support and therapy to help people to deal with mild and moderate depression and anxiety.
People who want help contact the service directly themselves. The NHS is looking at how these services are organised, and are keen to understand people’s experiences.
Healthwatch wants to hear from people who have used the service or are waiting for therapy, what went well, what didn’t go so well and any suggestions for improvements.
Lynn Cawley, Chief Officer of Healthwatch Shropshire, said:-
“We want to ensure that the patient voice is at the centre of any service development, and would encourage anybody who has used the service to get in touch. All experiences will be shared anonymously.”
Frances Sutherland, Head of Transformation and Commissioning (Mental health, LD & A) Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group, said:-
“We want to ensure these services are easily accessible and support people in the right way, which is why we want to understand more about how it feels to be treated by our local services. We are really pleased that Healthwatch have agreed to undertake this work. We want to hear the views of people who use the services now, or have used them in the past, so that we can design our service to best meet their needs.”
Barry Parnaby, Chair of Healthwatch Telford & Wrekin, said:-
“Your local Healthwatch and NHS Trust are committed to ensuring the delivery of care is as good as it can be; but to do this, we need to hear from those who have experienced the service. Please get in touch and help to make a positive change.”
People can share their experiences with either Healthwatch Shropshire or Healthwatch Telford & Wrekin through a short online questionnaire: www.healthwatchshropshire.co.uk/shropshire-psychological-therapies-service or
www.healthwatchtelfordandwrekin.co.uk/telford-iapt-shropshire-psychological-therapies-service-iapt.
or alternatively by calling 01743 237884 or 01952 739540.
Healthwatch is the independent health and social care champion. It gathers the views and experiences of patients, service users, carers, and the general public about services including hospitals, GPs, mental health services, community health services, pharmacists, opticians, residential care and children’s services. It also has statutory powers that it can use to influence service provision by encouraging improvements.
