Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Mental Health Services

Tuesday 11 February 2025 · 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 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial neutrality on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is noted.
  • The Minister is willing to discuss and potentially visit Thurrock community hospital to learn from its mental health practices.
  • The Minister highlights the Government's commitment to suicide prevention and training 8,500 new mental health workers.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Munira Wilson Lib Dem Twickenham
NHS Mental Health
Context

The question arises from the context of underfunded and overstretched NHS mental health services. The hon. Member refers to the ongoing debate around the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which involves mental health professionals.

Question

With the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill being amended to include a panel that will involve psychiatrists who will determine whether a request for assisted dying should be granted, as well as a number of cross-party amendments rightly calling for the involvement of mental health professionals earlier in the process, what assessment have Ministers made of whether there is sufficient capacity in mental health services, which the Minister has just noted are overstretched, to meet those demands, and on the potential knock-on impact on both waiting times and treatments for those with mental health conditions?

Answer from The Minister for Care (Stephen Kinnock)

The Government’s position on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is one of neutrality. The Minister speaks about the workability and operationalisation of the Bill, noting that any comment will be based on the amendment brought forward by my hon. Friend the Member for Spen Valley (Kim Leadbeater). The answer does not address the specific capacity concerns or potential impacts on mental health services.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide an assessment of whether there is sufficient capacity in mental health services to meet additional demands due to Bill amendments.

How: Neutrality Stance, Referring To Operationalisation

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Q2 Jen Craft Lab Thurrock
Mental Health
Context

The hon. Member references the successful model of integrated care in Thurrock community hospital, which involves working across various partners to meet people where they are and provide comprehensive support.

Question

Does the Minister see that model as integral to the reform of mental health care in this country? Will he join me on a visit to Thurrock community hospital to see what it does and what can be learned from how that work is undertaken?

Answer from The Minister for Care (Stephen Kinnock)

My hon. Friend is right that the integration of services is crucial to ensuring that we get the best possible outcomes for people who are struggling with their mental health. The Minister would be very happy to discuss the possibility of visiting her constituency.

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Q3 Jeremy Hunt Con Godalming and Ash
NHS Mental Health
Context

The right hon. Member refers to the work done by Mersey Care NHS foundation trust, which has reduced in-patient mental health suicides to zero.

Question

Is the Minister aware of the brilliant work done by Mersey Care NHS foundation trust in reducing in-patient mental health suicides to zero, which is an extraordinary achievement. Under a former Health Secretary, who may be standing not a million miles away from where I am standing now, that became an objective for all mental health in-patient units across the NHS. Will the Minister look into whether that objective still stands? If not, can it be reinstated?

Answer from The Minister for Care (Stephen Kinnock)

While not familiar with the detail, the Minister sounds positive about the development mentioned. He highlights the Government’s commitment to delivering the cross-sector suicide prevention strategy for England. The 8,500 new mental health workers will be specially trained to support people at risk.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not explicitly confirm or deny whether the objective still stands and if it can be reinstated.

How: Positive Tone, Reference To Suicide Prevention Strategy

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Q4 Andrew Cooper Lab Mid Cheshire
Education Mental Health
Context

The hon. Member receives concerns from constituents about lack of access to child and adolescent mental health services, and has met with GPs who share similar concerns.

Question

I am regularly contacted by constituents who are concerned that their children are not receiving the mental health care they need. Having met GPs in Winsford, I know there are clear concerns about access to child and adolescent mental health services being rationed to the point where it is almost inaccessible for all but the most severe cases. Will my hon. Friend tell me what progress has been made towards our commitment to provide specialist mental health professionals in schools, ensuring that there is early intervention that prevents issues from escalating?

Answer from The Minister for Care (Stephen Kinnock)

After 14 years under previous management, we are facing a serious situation in terms of mental health provision. The recruitment and training of new specialists will take time but the commitment remains to have them in every school. Additionally, open-access Young Futures hubs will be rolled out to improve services.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific details on progress made towards providing specialist mental health professionals in schools.

How: Contextual Reference, Commitment Statement

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Q5 Helen Morgan Lib Dem North Shropshire
NHS Mental Health
Context

Last week, the Secretary of State issued a new mandate for the NHS that dropped several mental health targets. Mental health waiting lists are at record highs and young people are struggling with CAMHS services.

Question

Does the Secretary of State accept that mental health targets should be reinstated and that mental health should be treated with equal priority to physical health?

Answer from Stephen Kinnock (The Minister for Care)

What we know about targets is that if we try to overload a system with too many targets, it causes confusion and ends up with perverse outcomes. We are clear that we do not want to have a system based on just making policy by press release as was the case under the previous Government, putting out press announcements about loads more targets. It all makes for nice front-page headlines but does not lead to any serious delivery of the strategy that we need to deliver. I am with her on the point about focus. We are absolutely committed to mental health as is set out in the planning guidance. It is also one of the priorities in the planning guidance, and we will continue to deliver on that priority.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not directly address the question about reinstating mental health targets or treating mental health with equal priority as physical health.

How: We Are Clear That We Do Not Want To Have A System Based On Just Making Policy By Press Release

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