The East Herts CAMHS experience
In October 2004 the Hoddesdon Team in East Herts had 6.0 FTE staff covering a patch of 180K with approx 4 FTE vacancies. (Note the Welwyn team also did this but these are the numbers for Hoddesdon).
- 223 referrals were on waiting list and it was about 10 months long. Only about 50% of those referred ever came.
- 162 of these had been referred more than 10 weeks previously, so admin sent these out 162 opt-in letters 86 out of the 162 did not reply to the opt in letter 10 out of the 162 said they no longer needed to be seen 2 were over 18 (and not because they had a birthday on the waiting list!)
- 66 opted in to the blitz who had waited more than 10 weeks (38%) and 61 were waiting less than 10 weeks
- So 127 appointments were needed to clear waiting list: 66 + 61 = 127
- The team over the 8-week period found 123 appointments.
- 93 families booked an appointment and 30 did not reply 85 attended, 7 DNA’s and 1 cancelled Of those 85 24 were closed after the first appointment (28%) 6 were referred on elsewhere 1 was consultation to professional only leaving
- 54 needed a Partnership appointment after the first appointment.
Overall: 223 families on the waiting list resulted in 54 families needing treatment! (24%)
All the waiting list blitz patients were seen within the target 8-week blitz period and the change from the old system with a waiting list to CAPA from start to finish took 3 ½ months.
Where to now?
This worked in East Herts. So we have written it down in detail as so many people ask us how they can get started and not feel immobilised by having a waiting list! Take what you find useful.
We think it will work in Anywhere CAMHS! Let us know!
We have heard from a number of services that have used this blitz method and all have been positive on how it works. Not all have had such a low opt in rate however.