Inequalities in the provision and monitoring of primary care counselling: views from Wiltshire, England.

Abstract This study reviewed the provision of counselling services through 30 general practices in Wiltshire, a rural county in South West England, by means of a postal questionnaire, which had an 80% response rate, and interviews with key stakeholders. While 83% of general practices had a practice-based counsellor and 87% referred patients to counselling agencies, significant inequities were identified across the area for the level of counselling provision. Systems for the monitoring, management and evaluation of counselling services were found to be inadequate and concerns were raised regarding the absence of standardised practice guidelines. These findings lend support to the Government’s intention to pursue statutory regulation of psychotherapists, counsellors and related groups working in the NHS.