Increasing referrals to IAPT Wellbeing Services – reducing inequalities and unwarranted clinical variation.

Protect NoW identified and contacted patients who had been prescribed anti-depressants or anxiety medication by their GP, but had not accessed the NSFT Wellbeing Service, which offers talking therapies. The project focused on the practice areas that referred least and concentrated on older patients and those living in areas of most deprivation. More than 2,000 patients were contacted to encourage participation and promote self-referral. 58.% of patients engaged following contact, with more than 1,000 completed patient questionnaires and 300 patients starting treatment.