The headline stats are blatantly manipulated. Figure 4 of the IAPT stats summary shows that less than 42% of referred patients finish a course of treatment. 27%

The headline stats are blatantly manipulated. Figure 4 of the IAPT stats summary shows that less than 42% of referred patients finish a course of treatment. 27% of referrals ended without the patient being seen by the service and 25% ended after one session of treatment. In practice, less than 37% of patients are getting prompt and appropriate treatment. The rest are fobbed off with utterly inappropriate therapy, dissuaded from starting or otherwise nudged off the waiting list. I've heard countless stories from both professionals and service users about blatant manipulation of the IAPT stats. Stories of referrals being "lost in the system" are commonplace. Many services are providing an initial appointment within the 6 week target, but then placing patients on an internal waiting list for further treatment. Many patients with complex needs are simply dropping out, rather than being progressed through the stepped care model. All this is against a backdrop of massive cuts to "specialist services", i.e. anything that isn't IAPT. The story I'm consistently hearing from practitioners and patient advocacy groups is that the service is failing the most vulnerable patients with the greatest need. Patients with mild depression and anxiety are getting the low-intensity treatment that they need in a prompt manner, but patients with more complex needs are simply being swept under the carpet.