A FLAGSHIP NHS mental health service is failing patients in and around Haslemere Grayshott and Liphook, research by the BBC shows.

People with depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are entitled to psychological therapies, such as counselling.

For those with mild to moderate mental health problems, the NHS runs a counselling service called Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT).It is available in every part of the country after being launched 10 years ago.

The NHS is meant to treat half the people it sees successfully. But an analysis of official data showed it was not the case in 28 of the 195 areas of the UK in the first six months of this year.

There is a three-fold variation in recovery rates between different places, with experts saying if such differences existed in heart bypass surgery there would be an outcry.

Psychologists said some areas were not properly funding services, meaning patients are offered fewer appointments than they really need.

However, NHS England said despite the problems in some areas, overall IAPT was successfully treating more than half of patients when the whole population was added together.

About 550,000 patients are treated by the service every year. They are given support ranging from telephone advice from trained therapists to group and one-to-one talking therapies.

The treatment should help half to recover - defined as no longer being clinically mentally ill by the time they are discharged.

The NHS has struggled to achieve this since the programme was launched in 2008.

Figures are published every three months by NHS area. In 28 of the 195 areas run by clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), fewer than half of patients were successfully treated during both the January to March and April to June periods.

NHS Guildford and Waverley CCG failed successfully to treat half of its patients receiving phsychological therapies in the first six months of 2018.

Responding a spokesman said: “NHS Guildford and Waverley CCG recognises IAPT recovery rates have not met the national target since June this year.

“However, we are committed to working with our providers to understand why and how to improve the treatment of conditions such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders.

“Conversely, our waiting times and reliable improvement rates have met national targets.”

South East Hampshire CCG, covering Grayshott and Liphook, was another of the 28 CCGs identified by the BBC as failing.

Its spokesman said: “Improving access to IAPT services should be provided for at least 15 per cent of those who could benefit from the service.

“The service is expected to treat 95 per cent of people within 18 weeks of referral and 75 per cent within six weeks, so that those people who need the service can receive it as soon as possible.

“This is being achieved across all Hampshire CCGs.

“There is a target for recovery rates – at least 50 per cent of people who complete treatment should recover.

“The BBC article focused on recovery rates and overall all Hampshire CCGs are exceeding the recovery target.

“We are aware we must do more to ensure people who need the service know about it and use it particularly in South East Hampshire CCG .

“We have a plan in place and are beginning to see an increase in uptake.”