Improvements to psychosis services

Improvements to psychosis services will ensure people get timely access to effective care and treatment.

Backed by an investment of £400,000, a new national network for early intervention psychosis will look at how services can best be delivered in urban, semi-urban and rural areas.

The work will be led by Healthcare Improvement Scotland over a two year period and improvements to services will be brought in across the country based on the findings of the network.

Current estimates are that 1,600 people each year present with psychosis in Scotland.

Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey said:

“Psychotic disorders can be extremely debilitating and it’s vital that those experiencing psychosis are treated quickly and effectively.

“Treating psychosis in the early stages can reduce the amount of time a patient needs to spend in hospital, reduce relapses, and leads to more effective and long lasting outcomes.

“This work will ensure people presenting for the first time with psychosis anywhere in Scotland get timely access to effective care and treatment, with a focus on early intervention and recovery.”

Director of Improvement at Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Ruth Glassborow, said:

“Healthcare Improvement Scotland is delighted to lead on this important work. We’ll conduct a national needs assessment and make recommendations for how early interventions in psychosis services can be tailored and delivered to meet specific needs in different areas.

“We will ensure that people living with psychosis are supported to participate fully in this work, to inform better long term outcomes for individuals.”

Background

The Scottish Government has published its Vision to Improve Early Intervention in Psychosis in Scotland.

A short life working group (SLWG), chaired by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, has been taking forward initial diagnostic work to inform the forthcoming improvement work on early intervention in psychosis. A summary of the SLWG’s work is included in the Scottish Government’s Vision paper.

A new National Early Intervention in Psychosis Improvement Network (will be introduced to ensure better early intervention psychosis services and support across Scotland.