A key priority of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Programme is to reduce the time people wait for treatment.

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Services measure and monitor waiting times with the aim of ensuring that no PATIENT waits longer than the locally stipulated maximum.

Note: Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Services may use the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Opt-In Model.

The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Referral To Treatment Measurement:

• Starts when:
  • Any CARE PROFESSIONAL or SERVICE permitted by an English NHS commissioner to make such referrals, refers to an Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Service with the intention that the PATIENT be assessed and, if appropriate, treated.
• 
  
• Ends when:
  • A full course of treatment starts, i.e. future treatment has been agreed with the PATIENT and a second APPOINTMENT has been arranged within 28 days of the first treatment session.
  • A PATIENT is assessed and treated during the same APPOINTMENT and a full course of treatment starts
  • A PATIENT declines treatment having been offered it
  • A clinical decision is made not to treat.

Note:

• The waiting time will end and be nullified when a PATIENT does not attend (DNA) their first APPOINTMENT
• There will be a pause when a PATIENT declines at least two reasonable APPOINTMENTS.

Further guidance relating to Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Referral To Treatment Measurement can be found at the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Programme website.

This supporting information is also known by these names:

Context	Alias
plural	Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Referral To Treatment Measurements