Diane Abbott MP visited the award-winning City and Hackney Primary Care Psychotherapy Consultation Service (PCPCS) on 16th May to meet the staff team and find out about its innovative work.

The PCPCS's team is headed by two BPC registrants - Dr Julian Stern and Dr Brian Rock.

Julian and Brian were able to explain to Diane how the service not only provides a range of effective psychological therapies to patients with medically unexplained symptoms, personality disorders and chronic mental health problems but how it also trains and supports GPs in City and Hackney to better help and support such patients.

The PCPCS takes on 40 - 50 patient referrals a month and the unique service model has been assessed by the Centre for Mental Health as leading to improvements in mental health for 75% of its patients and significant recovery for 55% of its patients.

The service also cuts costs – reducing the number of GP consultations, A & E visits, outpatient appointments and hospital admissions among its patients.  A typical course of treatment lasts for 12 -13 sessions, at an estimated £1,348 per patient.  Subsequent savings from reduced health service use are £463. 

At a time when people with complex mental health needs often fall between the gaps in current NHS service provision, the PCPCS presents a dynamic and thriving service model, ripe for replication across the country.

(In photo: Diane Abbott MP and Dr Brian Rock)