Mental Health Support 2024-11-19
2024-11-19
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The question follows the findings of Lord Darzi, who reported that mental health waiting lists have surged with more than 100,000 children waiting a year for their first appointment.
I am concerned about the steps being taken to improve mental health support services. According to Lord Darzi's report, mental health waiting lists have surged, with over 100,000 children waiting a year for their first appointment. What specific measures are you taking to address these issues?
We will recruit 8,500 more mental health workers, provide access to mental health support in every school, roll out young futures hubs in every community, and introduce a Bill to modernise the Mental Health Act 1983. These measures aim to improve mental health services.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The question follows the previous exchange and addresses specific challenges faced by families in accessing mental health services, including long waiting times and insufficient support staff.
I welcome the Minister's comments. My brother has very complex mental health needs. We as a family know at first hand the difficulties not only of accessing the services and of the long waiting times, but the challenge of support staff who are not constantly on a churn and the lack of community-funded support services. Our experience is no different to that of many other families. Will the Minister meet me to discuss how we will make mental health services more accessible in communities, invest more in preventive services and fund more community-based provision?
I will be pleased to meet my hon. Friend. This Government think it is unacceptable that too many people are not receiving the care they deserve, and we know that waits for mental health services are far too long. We are determined to change that with measures such as NHS 111 for mental health.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The question addresses the critical role of facilities such as leisure centres and swimming pools in supporting local people's mental health, specifically referring to the Sovereign Centre in Eastbourne.
Facilities such as leisure centres and swimming pools—like the Sovereign Centre in Eastbourne where I learned to swim—are critical in supporting people's mental health locally. Will the Minister support me in putting pressure on the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to expand the criteria of the towns fund to allow us to be able to spend it to invest in our leisure centres and sports and fitness facilities for local people?
I am grateful to the hon. Member for his question. We are a mission-led Government, and tackling health inequalities is not just for the Department of Health and Social Care but all Departments. I will be very happy to raise the role that Ministers can play in improving mental health and wellbeing with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not commit to expanding the towns fund criteria for leisure centres.
Response accuracy