An online clinician-led psychological family therapy service, which is proven to reduce anxiety levels by 29% and depression levels 35% is being trialled throughout Lincolnshire. 

The project, in collaboration with Healios and Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation NHS Trust (LPFT) has come about thanks to funding and support from the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN).

People affected by psychosis, as well as their families and carers have traditionally only received family intervention with the worker visiting the family.

Now they can get family intervention through their laptop or smart device, from the comfort of their own home, or wherever is most convenient, with the same level of clinical expertise received anywhere else in the NHS. A key benefit to the service is that each family member doesn’t physically have to be in the same location, which can often be difficult to organise with work and education commitments. Theoretically, four family members could be in completely different countries and be able to access this service at the same time.

Family intervention is a form of psychological therapy based on bringing the whole family together to improve treatment outcomes. Well proven with strong clinical evidence, family intervention delivers significant benefits for patients, families and the health service as a whole.

Antony Jackson, Business Manager for LPFT’s Adult Community Mental Health service said: “The access and waiting time standards require someone with first episode psychosis and their family to begin treatment with a care package that meets government clinical guidelines within two weeks of referral.

Being able to offer families an online service is not only helping with swift support for families, but means that we can reduce the burden of travel for families and the service; for many families, especially in rural locations, this is a huge positive. The system also uses technology many young people are familiar and comfortable with.”

Richard Andrews, Founder and Chairman of Healios commented: “We are delighted to partner with LPFT and EMAHSN on this service. Our family intervention makes treatment more accessible and convenient for people with psychosis and their families, while at the same time enables the NHS to respond to the changing needs of their patients.”

Mike Hannay, Managing Director of EMAHSN said: “This is exactly the kind of innovative and proven solution we want to offer more of in the East Midlands and we’re thrilled to be starting the programme in Lincolnshire.”

NOTES TO EDITORS
EMAHSN - is one of 15 Academic Health Science Networks in England. EMAHSN brings together the NHS, universities, industry and social care to transform the health of the region’s 4.6m residents and stimulate wealth. Current priorities focus on identifying and spreading innovations that address challenges including cancer, obesity, diabetes, mental health, respiratory disease and liver disease.

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust - provides specialist health and social care services for people with a learning disability and/or mental health issues. www.lpft.nhs.uk

Healios - is the UK’s leading digital healthcare company, bringing the whole family together to maximise long-term outcomes and well-being. We reimagine the way children, young people, and adults access and receive mental health services by blending the best of technology with specialised clinical expertise and a personal human connection.

At Healios, we transform mental health services by providing quicker diagnosis, faster access to evidence-based psychological therapies, and earlier intervention to create a unique online experience - getting patients and families the right care when and where they need it. Healios’ Family Intervention service manual for psychosis and schizophrenia has been endorsed by NICE for both the clinical guidelines and quality standards.

Impacts and statistics
Since 2013, Healios has delivered over 6,000 sessions to date and demonstrated improved clinical outcomes for both patients and families, including excellent service user experience ratings evidenced using scientifically validated scales as follows:

• Increased NHS capacity and client / family access - Healios is currently deployed to 14 NHS organisations nationally (and also an Armed-Forces project for veteran families)
• Increased speed of delivery with 100% of referrals to first session delivered within 2 weeks
• Significant savings in cost of delivery, on average, the cost of Healios delivering Family Intervention is 50% less than the NHS
• Supporting the delivery of the new Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) Access & Waiting Time Standards with one Trust now offering Healios to clients and families as first line
• 25% reduction in family burden
• 29% reduction in anxiety levels and 35% reduction in depression levels
• 21% improvement in work and social functioning
• Excellent service user experience with 98% of service users being very satisfied or satisfied, and 95% would recommend Healios to a friend
• 8% increase in treatment adherence
• 22% reduction in substance misuse

For more information, visit www.healios.org.uk and watch www.vimeo.com/187238888

Media enquiries:
LPFT: Barry Wood 01529 222221 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

EMAHSN: Chris Taylor 0115 748 4242 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Lucy Hose 0115 748 4243 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.