Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Access to NHS Mental Health Services

Tuesday 15 October 2024 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister pledged to recruit 8500 more mental health workers and introduce specialist mental health professionals in every school.
  • Government committed to working with NHS England to deploy additional mental health workers, focusing on community care.
  • Minister stated all acute hospitals should have 24/7 mental health liaison services in A&E and is reviewing suicide prevention strategy.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Chris Webb Lab Blackpool South
NHS Mental Health
Context

A million people are waiting to access mental health services, with vacancy rates at around 10%, the highest across the NHS. This situation has been exacerbated by 14 years of Tory neglect and mismanagement.

Question

Our mental health service is on its knees due to Tory neglect. A million people await mental health services, with vacancy rates reaching 10%. What assessment does he have regarding access to these services?

Answer from Stephen Kinnock

The Government are committed to fixing our broken NHS, recruiting 8,500 more mental health workers, introducing specialist mental health professionals in every school, rolling out Young Futures hubs, and modernising the Mental Health Act.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a specific assessment of the adequacy of access to NHS mental health services.

How: Committed To Fixing Our Broken Nhs

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Q2 Luke Akehurst Lab North Durham
NHS Mental Health
Context

Patients are unable to access community mental health nurses, putting pressure on GP practices and leading people to attend A&E.

Question

Patients cannot get access to community mental health nurses, putting huge pressure on GP practices. Will the 8,500 extra mental health staff pledged include much-needed nurses?

Answer from Stephen Kinnock

We are working with NHS England on deploying those additional 8,500 mental health workers. We are committed to shifting from hospital to community in the mental health sector.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm whether the 8,500 extra staff will include community nurses.

How: Committed To Shifting, Working With Nhs England

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Q3 Chris Webb Lab Blackpool South
Mental Health
Context

Jamie Pearson, a 27-year-old from Blackpool, took his own life after waiting nearly 24 hours to see a mental health worker in A&E. There is pressure on community mental health services.

Question

Jamie Pearson waited nearly 24 hours in A&E before seeing a mental health worker and sadly died. What steps are being taken to ensure people can access mental health treatment without waiting in A&E?

Answer from Stephen Kinnock

All acute hospitals should now have a 24/7 mental health liaison service in A&E. We are looking at how best to take forward our suicide prevention strategy for England.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps being taken beyond the existing services and strategies.

How: Looking At How Best To Take, We Will Do Everything In Our Power

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Q4 Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale
Mental Health
Context

Child and adolescent mental health services in south Cumbria lack a dedicated crisis team, unlike the rest of Lancashire.

Question

South Cumbria lacks a dedicated crisis team for child and adolescent mental health services. Will the Minister intervene with the integrated care board to ensure young people have access to such a team?

Answer from Stephen Kinnock

We are committed to rolling out Young Futures hubs across the country, prioritising areas of need. I am happy to meet him to discuss this further.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm any specific intervention with the integrated care board or trust.

How: Happy To Meet, Committed To Rolling Out

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Q5 Munira Wilson Lib Dem Twickenham
Mental Health Children & Families
Context

Children with mild to moderate needs in the London borough of Richmond waited on average 15 months, and those with severe needs waited nine months before receiving treatment.

Question

Children awaiting tier 2 services wait an average of 15 months while those needing more intensive care wait nine months. As well as committing mental health professionals to schools, will he invest in acute provision to prevent children from ending up in A&E?

Answer from Stephen Kinnock

We are committed to shifts from hospital to community, sickness to prevention and analogue to digital. We aim to identify treatable conditions early to prevent them from becoming serious crises.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide any specific commitment or funding for acute provision.

How: Committed To Shifts, Aim To Identify

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