Early promise for project helping mental health service users ‘wait as well as possible’

The ‘waiting as well as possible’ project, funded by The Health Foundation’s Q Exchange, is focusing on improving the experiences of people waiting to be seen by a Local Primary Care Mental Health service in Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTMUHB).

The pilot project is being delivered by CTMUHB and the Quality, Safety and Improvement directorate of the NHS Executive in Wales, in co-production with people with lived experience of mental health services, people currently awaiting psychological interventions and partner agencies. It is testing whether introducing additional support can improve people’s experiences of waiting.

Tackling feelings of hopelessness and isolation

The health board covers a number of the South Wales valleys; areas that face deep deprivation, high levels of community trauma and poverty.

Co-produced research within the psychology department indicated that people waiting wanted more contact with the service. People waiting often reported that a lack of communication whilst waiting added to feelings of hopelessness and isolation.

The test of change

Recognising the value that peer mentors have been shown to offer in other areas of mental health care, the project team is trialing a peer support worker role to provide a range of person centred support whilst waiting.

As part of the trial, there are two cohorts: one in which people receive support ‘as usual’ and one in which people receive tailored support from the peer support worker. Both groups complete a Patient Reported Experience Measure (PREM) developed by the project team as part of the test of change.

Although the trial is ongoing, initial feedback to the peer support worker role has been optimistic, where people have told us:

“This is so refreshing, I feel heard. I look forward to meeting with you again.” 

“It’s nice that someone gets it.”

“Thank you so much for meeting with me last week. Your words really touched my heart. My mood is really good this week.

Co-lead of the ‘waiting as well as possible’ project, Dr Andrea Davies, Head of Mental Health Psychology at CTMUHB, said: “From an idea submitted to the Q Exchange last year, this project has grown and really come into its own this year thanks to the valuable input of different individuals, partners and groups.

“We have already captured rich learning from this work, which we are looking forward to building upon and sharing in the months ahead.”  

The work is ongoing until October and we will continue to share updates on this project.