The leaders of 20 health organisations have today united to declare their support for the Government’s efforts to offer timely access to psychological therapies on the NHS for all who need them.

Joining together for the first national Psychological Therapies in the NHS conference at Savoy Place, London, the 20 groups today agreed the New Savoy Declaration.

The Declaration welcomes the Government’s £170 million* investment in psychological therapies and calls for timely access to state-of-the-art psychological therapies to be available within six years. It also calls for people to have genuine choices about the therapy they receive and for investment in research and development.

The Declaration includes a pledge from the 20 organisations to work together to support the NHS in its efforts to extend psychological therapy provision and to ensure it is safe and effective.

* The Department of Health has pledged increased funding for its Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme, rising from £30 million in 2008/09 to £102 million in 2009/10 and £170 million in 2010/11.