Limbic Access

Streamlining access to therapy through a chatbot

  • Publicly sourced

The challenge

Accessing mental health support can be a difficult first step for many people. Traditional self-referral methods such as web forms or phone calls can be time-consuming and often feel off-putting to patients, leading to high drop-out rates. This not only delays access to care but also places additional pressure on NHS services.

The solution

Limbic Access is an AI-powered chatbot that streamlines the referral process for NHS talking therapies. It offers an interactive, patient-friendly experience, guiding users through the referral process, replacing lengthy traditional forms. It reduces administrative workload for clinicians by collecting essential patient data, screening individuals, and flagging high-risk cases for prioritisation. By providing a more efficient, accessible and personalised path to mental health support, Limbic Access enhances patient engagement and ensures timely care.

The results

  • There was a 30% increase in the number of patients completing their referral process.
  • Assessment time was reduced by 23.5%, saving 12.7 minutes per referral.
  • There was an 18% decrease in the number of patients dropping out of treatment.
  • Increased triage accuracy led to 45% fewer changes in treatment.
  • The system identified ineligible referrals and redirected them to appropriate services, thereby creating additional clinician capacity. For Mind Matters Surrey, this applied to 20% of referrals.

Learnings / insights

  • Staff training supports adoption of new technology by easing the transition.

Details

Organisation name
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) / NHS England (NHSE)
Government body
UK Government
User group
General public
Use case type
Specific
Type of technology
Generative AI
Phase
Live
Impact
Better Customer experience / Time savings

Links

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Content created: 10 May 2025 | Last updated: 23 May 2025