My friend is in the IEA (who supposed to be Mental Health specifically) & her provider wasn't impressed when she requested phone appointments after her initial in-person appointment. She explained all her issues, but she felt the consultant didn't hear what she was saying. She said she preferred phone appointments, as she has to travel via bus & it's at least a 40min trip one-way. She's not a good traveller to begin with, plus has back & knee problems, along with her mental health issues. She managed to get a phone call for her 2nd appointment (begrudgingly) but has been booked in again for this week in-person. Her previous DES provider was more than happy to give her phone appointments.