Access to Mental Health Services in Bromley
Download (PDF 369.06 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Bromley carried out a survey to understand residents’ experiences of accessing mental health services. The survey ran from October 2020 to January 2021 with 59 responses in total.
- Almost 3 in 5 respondents were happy with the mental health support they received
- Long waiting times for treatment were a concern for respondents, with 29% reporting a wait for treatment of more than 6 months
- Respondents were most likely to approach their GP (32%) when seeking support, GPs were identified as the primary source of information about mental health services
- Respondents wanted more empathy from mental health staff, shorter waiting times, better information about services, and better support from their GP
The report contains six recommendations, including the provision of clear information about timescales for treatment, a patient friendly diagram of the care pathway to be promoted in the local area, Mental Health First Aid training for all frontline staff, and a needs-based approach which caters for flexibility in appointment type and meets communication preferences.