NHS England pilot adds mental health support for patients with physical ailments, finds 75% reduction in hospital visits

Early results from a pilot project in England that offers psychological assessments to patients with physical health problems found it cut hospital admissions by 75%. NHS described the strategy as a "game-changer" for mental healthcare and it expects similar programs will be introduced across England. As part of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies initiative, mental health therapists are being placed into GP surgeries to offer a combination of "mind and body care to patients". For example, those given a diagnosis for diabetes, heart problems or respiratory illness are now given a "whole person" assessment that focuses on any mental healthcare they may need to manage their condition.