In 2019, 40% of GP appointments were related to Mental Health. The impact of the covid-19 pandemic has further highlighted the importance of mental health. Yet, many patients presenting with mental health issues are failed by their GP.
You may be interested in these active petitions
In a trial in Teeside patients contacting their GP surgery with mental health concerns were offered an appointment directly with a mental health nurse. In the first three months of the pilot, 670 appointments were held with 483 patients. Of these, only 19 patients were referred on to more in-depth mental health support.
Having a Mental Health Nurse in these settings should help improve support for patients with mental health issues, and improve GP availability for other matters.