Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

NHS Reorganisation

Tuesday 21 October 2025 · 3 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Rebecca Smith raised concerns about long waiting lists for mental health services for children and young people in Devon.
  • Rachael Maskell highlighted issues with children and adolescent mental health services in York, suggesting local authorities commissioning mental health services.
  • Dr Caroline Johnson expressed concern over the simultaneous reorganisation of NHS England and ICBs, affecting patient care and the implementation of the RSV vaccine recommendation.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rebecca Smith Con South West Devon
NHS Mental Health
Context

The MP met Lila, a sixth-form student who raised concerns about long waiting lists for mental health services in Devon. The issue of delays in diagnosis and treatment for children and young people is prevalent.

Question

Yesterday I met Lila, a sixth-form student at Coombe Dean school, who raised the issue of long waiting lists for mental health services for children and young people across Devon. What action has been taken as a result of the Government’s policy of reorganising the NHS to reduce the unacceptable delays in mental health diagnosis and treatment for children and young people, particularly in constituencies such as South West Devon?

Answer from The Minister for Secondary Care (Karin Smyth)

All of us as constituency MPs are fully aware of the state of mental health services, particularly for young people, which is why my hon. Friend the Minister for Care is working at pace on our manifesto commitments to support young people, particularly through schools. We also understand the difficulties that her ICB in particular has with its financial situation—something we are also targeting as part of our reforms to ensure that ICBs develop services for local people in line with the expectations that we have set them.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific actions taken to address long waiting lists and delays specifically, only mentioned awareness and financial situation issues.

How: Working On, Targeting As Part Of Reforms

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Q2 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
NHS Mental Health
Context

In York, children and adolescent mental health services are not working well for young people who remain on waiting lists with no management or treatment. The issue of holistic needs of young children's development and mental health wellbeing is raised.

Question

Likewise, in York, children and adolescent mental health services are just not working for children, who are left on waiting lists often with no management or treatment. In order really to achieve reorganisation in our NHS, would our Government look at local authorities commissioning mental health services, to deliver such services and to meet the holistic needs of young children’s development and mental health wellbeing?

Answer from The Minister for Secondary Care (Karin Smyth)

Again, I echo comments on the state of mental health services, as the hon. Member has done. As it says in our manifesto, we are committed to those 8,500 extra mental health support workers in local areas such as hers. It is important that commissioners work closely with their local authorities on mental health services, and I know my hon. Friend the Minister for Care is ensuring that that happens as part of the reforms we are undertaking.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address whether local authorities would commission mental health services, only mentioned importance of close work with local authorities.

How: Working Closely, Ensuring

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Q3 Caroline Johnson Con Sleaford and North Hykeham
NHS
Context

The disruption caused by NHS reorganisation is affecting patient care. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended that the RSV vaccine be given to those over 80 and those in adult care homes before summer, but delivery is delayed.

Question

I am concerned that the disruption caused by an uncosted, unplanned simultaneous reorganisation of NHS England and the ICBs is affecting patient care. Before the summer, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended that the RSV vaccine should be given to those over 80 and those in adult care homes. In July, I asked the Secretary of State to confirm that this vaccine will be available in time for the winter season, and he said 'I can certainly reassure the shadow Minister on this.'—[Official Report, 22 July 2025; Vol. 771, c. 677.] The winter vaccine programme started three weeks ago. Why has he not delivered on his promise?

Answer from The Minister for Secondary Care (Karin Smyth)

On the hon. Lady’s first point, this Government, unlike the previous Government, do believe in experts, and we follow the clinical advice that we are given. On her second point, as she is so keen on reading our manifesto commitments, the commitment was to do that by 2030. It is currently 2025. Our reforms to ICBs and providers, bringing NHS England inside the Department of Health and Social Care to make it more democratically accountable for taxpayers, will reverse the shocking increase in funding that the previous Government put into a leaky bucket. We are fixing the foundations of the NHS. We are targeting resources at people in line with our 10-year plan.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address why commitment for RSV vaccine availability was not met, instead focused on reforms and manifesto commitments.

How: Following Clinical Advice, Targeting Resources

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