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Mental health service updates pushed back

Mental health service updates pushed back
11 November 2013



Campaigners are protesting over long waiting times for mental health services in York. 
Defend Our NHS York and the York People’s Assembly met outside the building where Vale of York clinical commissioning group (CCG) was meeting late last week. 
The protesters raised concerns over waiting times, as well as bed shortages and the reorganisation of St Andrew’s psychotherapy unit. 

Campaigners are protesting over long waiting times for mental health services in York. 
Defend Our NHS York and the York People’s Assembly met outside the building where Vale of York clinical commissioning group (CCG) was meeting late last week. 
The protesters raised concerns over waiting times, as well as bed shortages and the reorganisation of St Andrew’s psychotherapy unit. 
Services at St Andrew’s Counselling and Psychotherapy unit are under review by Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (FT). 
The review aimed to deliver a single, coherent secondary care psychology service for York and north Yorkshire, with a single point of access. 
And cost savings must be delivered, as well as a robust personality disorder care pathway. 
Although the FT said a model which would fit all criteria had been delivered on 7 October 2013, further consultation showed that some were not comfortable with the proposed arrangements. 
A spokesperson said: “At the recent City of York Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust were asked to extend the consultation period for their review of the St Andrew’s Counselling and Psychotherapy Service. 
“Following a meeting with Healthwatch York, the Trust have agreed to hold two further workshops to set out the St Andrew’s proposals in the context of their wider community services redesign.” 
Local newspapers have reported “huge backlogs” in people waiting for counselling in York and Selby. 
At least 200 people suffering from conditions including mild and moderate depression and anxiety are on a four-month waiting list for low-intensity counselling. 
And hundreds of others are on the 14-month waiting list for high-intensity counselling for conditions including severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. 

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