Early Intervention In
Psychosis (EIP)
The Early Intervention In Psychosis (EIP) Programme supports the delivery of the core clinical programmes within the Long Term Plan and the Mental Health Implementation Plan 2019/20 - 2023/24 (the Implementation Plan) by connecting commissioners, providers, professionals, patients and the public across pathways of care with the aim of improving health outcomes. This is achieved by sharing best practice and innovation, assessing and benchmarking quality and outcomes and driving improvement where required, through targeted support.
What We Are Trying To Achieve
At least 60% of people with a first episode psychosis starting treatment with a NICE-recommended package of care with a specialist early intervention in psychosis (EIP) service within two weeks of referral. The NHS Long Term Plan has confirmed:
- The 60% Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) access standard will be maintained.
- 95% of services will achieve Level 3 NICE concordance and current provision will be expanded to include care and support for all-ages (including 35+) and people experiencing At-Risk Mental State (ARMS).
Why It’s Important
Achieving Better Access to Mental Health Services by 2020 (DH, 2014) states ‘there is good evidence that these services help young people to recover from a first episode of psychosis and to gain a good quality of life’. NICE found these services reduce the likelihood that individuals with psychosis will relapse or be detained under the Mental Health Act, potentially saving the NHS £44 million each year through reduced hospital admissions. In addition to the benefits to people with psychosis highlighted by NICE, these services have wider benefits:
- 35% of people under their care are in employment, compared with 12% in traditional care;
- they reduce the likelihood of an individual receiving compulsory treatment from 44% to 23% during the first two months of psychosis; and
- they reduce a young person’s suicide risk from 15% to 1%
This policy introduced the 2-week waiting time standard for EIP, the first ever waiting time standard in mental health. Subsequently, clinical and service quality standards were introduced, which are used to audit every EIP team annually with the aim of 95% of teams being rated Level 3 by 2023/24.
What We Have Achieved In The Last 6 Months:
- Supporting services in the region to maintain high standards of care.
- Hosting EIP regional forums to support best practice and sharing of ideas.
- Sustaining performance during Covid (even physical health) and improving in some areas such as outcomes. The teams should be commended on their enthusiasm in taking part during covid.
- Continued high attendance at network meetings.
- High retention of face to face contacts, but also using more telemedicine.
Meetings & Events
- EIP Network Meetings Bi-monthly
- Support for network sub-groups (ARMS and Lived Experience)
- Attendance at steering group meetings for high support systems
- QI review meetings with high support systems
What We Plan To Do In The Next 6 Months:
- To work with teams on the back of their NCAP results and identify where targeted support is needed.
- To provide improvement support to areas with the greatest need.
- To support teams that are close to achieving the Level-3 target with bespoke support for ‘areas of focus’.
- Continue to work towards greater lived experience involvement & also develop models for working into/alongside community transformation.
Local Services
Interactive Map of EIP teams