Quicker access for mental health sufferers in Berkshire

New proposals from the Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust will give patients suffering from mental health problems quicker access to therapy.

It has announced increased training for therapists to cut the waiting time from 12 weeks to four, due to surplus money in the trust, reports getreading.co.uk.

The waiting time to see a therapist has been criticised and the new targets will double the number of trained professionals, together with 15 new trainees.

Philippa Slinger, chief executive of the trust, told the news provider that it has made progress in increasing the number of psychological therapists (PT) and reduced waiting times.

"It has been a critical part of our strategy for the past three years now to try to increase the number of therapists, and one of the benefits of being a foundation trust is that we can invest, and we have wanted to invest in PTs for a long time," she added.

The website recently reported that the trust recommended that young men on remand or in custody need increased access to mental health care as it claims they are at the highest risk of suicide.


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