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<p><em>Achieving Better Access to Mental Health Services by 2020</em>, published in
October 2014, set out the ambition that by 2020 the National Health Service would
provide a comprehensive set of access and waiting time standards.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>This was accompanied by a £120 million investment – an investment of £40 million
new money in 2014/15 to lay the groundwork for introducing the standards, and £80
million in 2015/16 that will be realised out of existing NHS England budgets. This
will enable the setting of the following access and waiting time standards in mental
health services:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- Treatment within six weeks for 75%
of people referred to the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme,
with 95% of people being treated within 18 weeks;</p><p> </p><p>- Treatment within
two weeks for more than 50% of people experiencing a first episode of psychosis; and</p><p>
</p><p>- £30 million targeted investment will help people in crisis to access effective
support in accident and emergency.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Since 2008, over
3 million people have entered IAPT treatment, with over half of them having completed
treatment. Over 1 million patients have reached recovery.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>By
end March 2015, the aim is for IAPT services to be available to at least 15% of people
who could benefit. Many local areas are achieving more than this. The 15% target was
set in order to ensure a credible alternative to medication was available everywhere.
We will know shortly if this target has been met and will then plan about how to progress.</p><p>
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