What is Early Intervention?
Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) are multi-disciplinary teams set up to seek, identify and reduce treatment delays at the onset of psychosis and promote recovery by reducing the probability of relapse following a first episode of psychosis. Timely access to EIP is shown to have a significant long-term impact on the lives and livelihood of individuals with psychosis and their families.
NHS England’s aspiration is that at least 56% of people aged 14-65 who are experiencing their first episode of psychosis should start treatment within two weeks and 25% of EIP service providers to achieve Level 3 and above assessed by the National Clinical Audit of Psychosis (NCAP) and in accordance with NICE guidelines for psychosis and schizophrenia.
Alongside a 60% national increase in access to Individual Placement Support (IPS) services, a voluntary scheme currently being rolled out to 28 new local NHS areas, meaning eight out of ten parts of England will have access to the programme. Access is expected to double to 20,000 people per year by 2020-21 and will continue to expand as part of the NHS Long Term Plan – helping 55,000 people each year by 2023-24. Patients hoping to get back into work can be referred directly by their doctor or another mental health professional and can also self-refer.