A project is improving the efficiency of referrals to a locality psychology team thanks to the introduction of staff consultation clinics.

Since June 2018, the Clydesdale psychological therapies team (PTT), based at Carluke Community Health Centre, has been working with the Clydesdale community mental health team (CMHT) to reduce the number of inappropriate referrals from the CMHT to the PTT.

The project was introduced following the establishment of the Scottish Government’s mental health access improvement support team (MHAIST), which supports health boards to improve the quality and accessibility of appropriate assessment and therapy services – including child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) – for everyone requiring them.

Dr Simon Stuart, clinical psychologist and project lead, said: “The help we’ve had from MHAIST has made all the difference between simply getting the project off the ground and actually embedding it in practice.”

The Clydesdale project involves two psychologists offering drop-in clinics where staff including nurses, psychiatrists and social workers can discuss cases. It has seen benefits for staff and patients alike, such as:

• ensuring people receive the right intervention at the right time;
• improving integration between different aspects of people’s mental health and social care;
• increasing staff confidence, capability and compassion;
• providing effective leadership to ensure high-quality care.

The Clydesdale PTT is one of 10 locality teams across Lanarkshire that provides psychological assessment, signposting and intervention for the general adult population. In Clydesdale alone, there are usually between 40 and 50 referrals a month for psychological therapy.

Referrals are received from GPs and the CMHT for patients who are aged 16 and over who are not at school, with conditions ranging from mild anxiety – for which a class such as stress control might be indicated – through to severe and enduring difficulties requiring longer-term individual therapy. The consultation clinics help ensure that CMHT patients are getting the right psychological support at the right time.

Dr Stuart added: “One of the things that’s made a big difference is having Dr Heather Jamieson, counselling psychologist, come on board. She has made such a contribution to the project.

“I’m proud of what we have achieved and keen to explore how we can build on the good work of the PTT.”