Why it matters: Talking therapies help treat people with depression or anxiety and are approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. No mental health diagnosis is required. The decline comes as mental health services face increasing demand, though local waiting times remain strong compared to national performance.
The details: Of the 345 referrals finishing treatment in the area in April, 320 (93%) had accessed treatment within six weeks, and all had within 18 weeks.
This exceeds NHS guidelines, which state 75% of patients should have a first appointment within six weeks of referral and 95% within 18 weeks.
The bigger picture: The strong local performance contrasts sharply with patchy access across England. Of the 133,908 referrals made nationally in April, waiting times varied significantly.
Only 11 NHS areas had all their referrals access treatment within six weeks, while 15 areas failed to meet the 75% guideline.
What they're saying: Alexa Knight, director of England at the Mental Health Foundation, said: "When someone's struggling with their mental health and reaches out for support, being met with a long wait for help can be devastating.
"Access to good quality, culturally appropriate therapy can make a huge difference in preventing someone's mental health from worsening."
By the numbers: Nearly half (48%) of patients completing treatment in Ipswich and East Suffolk showed reliable recovery, with more than two-thirds (68%) showing reliable improvement. Just 6% experienced reliable deterioration – figures that closely mirror national performance.
What to do: An NHS spokesperson said: "If you or someone you know is struggling with anxiety, please don't hesitate to self-refer to your local talking therapies service or contact your GP practice."
Residents can access services by self-referral or through their GP, with local services consistently meeting national access targets.
The bottom line: While referrals have dropped locally, Ipswich and East Suffolk outperforms many areas nationally for access to NHS talking therapy.
