Scotland has become the first country in the world to make digital therapeutics for anxiety and insomnia available nationally.

NHS Scotland will offer Big Health’s therapeutics to all adults, providing them with cognitive behavioural therapy.

The agreement covers anxiety treatment Daylight and insomnia therapy Sleepio at no cost to end users. People across all 14 NHS Scotland health board areas will have 24/7 instant access to the therapies as a first-line treatment.

Patients can sign up for the solutions via self-referral or by visiting their GP.

Big Health's technology is also available in England through the NHS, but only in two regions :North Hampshire and the Thames Valley.

Scottish mental wellbeing and social care minister Kevin Stewart said: “Digital technologies have massive potential to help people manage and support their mental health in a way that feels right for them.

“We are working with NHS Scotland to combine traditional in-person services with technology-enabled solutions, allowing us to reach people with the right treatment at the right time.”

Big Health UK director Charlotte Lee added: “Whilst this is great for people living in Scotland, we should move away from a postcode lottery for care.

“We believe people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with conditions such as insomnia and anxiety should be able to get instant, evidence-based help on the NHS instead of being given drugs.”

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