Number of patients who are waiting to start a psychological therapy
This is the number of patients who are currently waiting to start a psychological therapy as at each census snapshot (i.e. the last calendar day of each month).
Psychological therapy denotes referrals received for high intensity or specialist psychological therapies / interventions (as defined in Matrics Cymru). Referrals for low intensity interventions i.e. those delivered via Local Primary Mental Health Support Services (LPMHSS), are excluded.
Waits should be categorised into the following time bands:
o Patients waiting up to and including 84 days (<= 11 weeks)
o Patients waiting 85 days and over and up to and including 126 days (12-17 weeks)
o Patients waiting 127 days and over and up to and including 182 days (18 - 25 weeks)
o Patients waiting 183 days and over and up to and including 252 days (26 - 35 weeks)
o Patients waiting 253 days and over and up to and including 364 days (36 - 51 weeks)
o Patients waiting 365 days and over (>= 52 weeks)
When calculating wait times, the following guidance applies:
Clock start point is the date which the referral for a psychological therapy is received by the team which will be delivering the psychological therapy (regardless of whether opted in).
Clock stop point is the date which the patient starts their psychological therapy i.e. when the clinician deems that the patient has started treatment.
Could Not Attend (CNA) and Did Not Attend (DNA)
CNA – The clock start point is reset to the date at which the patient notified the service that they were unable to attend the appointment. There are no restrictions applied regarding the maximum number of times a date can be reset.
DNA – The clock start point is reset to the date the patient did not attend the appointment. There are no restrictions applied regarding the maximum number of times a date can be reset.
Adjustments
Where the patient is unavailable for medical or social reasons, an adjustment should be made to the wait time to take account of the period of unavailability.
Cancellations by the team delivering the psychological therapy
If the team delivering the psychological therapy cancels a patient's appointment, the waiting times clock continues and a new appointment must be booked i.e. the clock is not reset.
Note: Where there is a requirement to obtain additional information in support of the referral the clock should not be stopped.