Kent and Medway patients now seen within 2 weeks for first-episode psychosis
Date added: 06 February 2026
Last updated: 06 February 2026
Patients who experience a first episode of psychosis are now being seen within 2 weeks, after Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust delivered a major boost to referral times.
The trust has streamlined how referrals are handled, introducing faster triage, closer oversight, and more flexible planning so people can get urgent help at the moment they need it most.
Emily Musara, General Manager, West Kent Directorate for Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, said: “Acting early when people have their first psychosis episode and become very unwell is absolutely essential, and can change their life. As a trust, we are working to continuously improve the care we deliver and towards meeting the national 2-week Referral To Treatment (RTT) target.
“Every day, staff go above and beyond to make sure people are seen quickly and receive the support they need. It’s their commitment that makes this success possible.”
Faster referrals have been achieved by collaborative working between GPs and community mental health teams, who have introduced an enhanced triage process. This allows managers and clinical leads to work side-by-side to prioritise assessments, manage risk, and balance capacity through a structured assessment rota across Kent and Medway Early Intervention Psychosis (EIP) Services.
Since the launch of Mental Health Together, the community mental health framework for Kent and Medway, all referrals into EIP services now go through a single front door, reducing delays and helping people reach the right service more quickly to receive a full assessment and support.
Mercy Chiwara, West Kent EIP Service Manager for Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, said:
“Seeing people quickly makes a real difference to people’s lives. Early assessment and treatment not only reduce distress, but also give patients and families confidence and support from the very start.”
During periods of higher demand, such as December and January, extra assessment capacity was created and psychology teams offered additional assessment slots, helping services continue to see people faster.
Early support helps reduce the risk of crisis, improves recovery, and enables people to stay connected to their daily lives, including work, education, and family.
