We are working with our neighbouring West Midlands AHSN on a collaborative Innovation Exchange which will focus on using digital solutions to enhance the existing Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme.

 The IAPT programme began in 2008 and has transformed treatment of adult anxiety disorders and depression. There is a commitment to expanding services and improving quality using digital technologies to enhance the current IAPT programme.

This commitment is emphasised in the NHS Long Term Plan: “The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health set out plans for expanding IAPT services so at least 1.5 million people can access care each year by 2020/21. We will continue to expand access to IAPT services for adults and older adults with common mental health problems, with a focus on those with long-term conditions...By 2023/24, an additional 380,000 adults and older adults will be able to access NICE-approved IAPT services.”

Are you an innovator with an appropriate digital solution?

We are seeking digital innovations that are already available, have been piloted, are currently being evaluated or could be adapted to enhance treatment / recovery to improve and enhance the delivery of IAPT services across a range of mental health and physical health conditions.

Digitally enabled therapy is psychological therapy that is provided online or through mobile applications, with the support of a therapist. There is evidence to show these therapies can achieve comparable outcomes to face-to-face therapy, when the same content is delivered in an online format which allows much of the learning to be achieved through patient self-study, reinforced and supported by a suitably trained therapist. Many people prefer to access therapy in this way.

We are seeking digital innovations across three key areas which will support the delivery of IAPT services:

1. Access: Referral and Assessment

This could include:

• Digital solutions to facilitate and speed-up the referral, appointment and assessment process or identification of whether IAPT services are relevant to the patient and speed up access to the right treatment
• Improved methods for recruiting patients into research studies

2. Digital Therapies:

Flexible and innovative delivery of therapies to improve outcomes for people with the most common anxiety related disorders. These therapies could include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, interpersonal therapy, couples counselling, etc. Common anxiety related disorders could include (depression, anxiety, medically unexplained symptoms and long term conditions, etc.) and other conditions treated within IAPT services including but not limited to specific disorders such as:

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Social Phobias
• Agoraphobia
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Panic Disorder
• Eating Disorders

3. Patient Self-Management and recovery

Digital innovations that encourage patients to monitor and maintain their mental health during and after treatment including follow-up and, if required, facilitate re-entry into treatment.

4. Workforce

Digital solutions which could develop the role of the therapist, improve IAPT staff’s own wellbeing, enable flexible working (including being able to work outside traditional working hours) and increase workforce satisfaction.

Ideally, solutions will provide the facility to aggregate data and complex information into meaningful reports or dashboards to patients and staff. The solutions should be easily integrated into current working processes for IAPT staff including smart devices and / or web based tools, clinical computing and business management systems.

Innovators are invited to submit their solutions using this portal. The initial deadline for submissions is Friday 4 October.

For more information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.