'Those with most serious problems would be left without the best help'
10/11
PSYCHIATRIST Dr David Smith has more than 30 years of experience and believes the NHS proposals could leave patients without the most effective form of therapy.
He said psychodynamic psychotherapy was of "major benefit" to patients.
He said a common reason GPs asked for patients to be given it was because they were at risk of trying to kill themselves.
Although he was not aware of any studies proving that the therapy reduced the number of suicides, he said there was research showing that fewer people took non-fatal overdoses as a result of it.
And he said: "Two patients who I recently discharged said to me that they "would not be here" had it not been for the therapy.
"Each was in a very poor state of psychological health when they were first referred to the clinic.
"In my opinion they were at real risk of suicide, and each needed quite lengthy therapy.
"If long-term psychological therapy is scrapped, I just don't know what would happen to such people."
Dr Smith hit back at the NHS claim that there was a lack of strong evidence proving the therapy was successful. He said it was supported by professional bodies including The Royal College of Psychiatrists and The British Psychological Society, senior academics and health professionals.
He added: "Hundreds of patients receive this care now and thousands have done so over the years.
"If these proposals go ahead, people with the more serious levels of mental health difficulties would be left without a service that could help them to recover substantially their psychological wellbeing.
"It is puzzling and worrying to see the NHS proposing to withdraw services for the more seriously ill patients.
"Surely the more ill and troubled patients should have some priority?
"In short, scrapping the service would leave these particularly vulnerable users without the most effective available treatment."
Source: Derbyshire Evening Telegraph, Thursday, October 20, 2011