Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Accountability In Child Mental Health Services Commissioning

09 February 2022 · 0 other contributors · 591 words

Opened by Maria Caulfield Con Lewes

Responding minister: Not recorded

Mental Health

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Maria Caulfield raised concerns about accountability in child mental health services commissioning in Westminster Hall. Response awaited from government.

Key points

  • Maria Caulfield raised concerns about the lack of accountability for uncommissioned local services in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
  • She highlighted long wait times and families struggling to access necessary support, often contacting her as their last point of contact.
  • Caulfield emphasized the need for a national strategy and early diagnosis in schools, citing a successful autism early diagnosis pilot in Bradford.

Key requests to Government

Caulfield asks for accountability measures through the integrated care system (ICS) boards becoming accountable bodies for commissioning services if the Health and Care Bill passes on time. She also emphasises the need to roll out successful pilot studies across the country to improve early diagnosis of autism in children.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Maria Caulfield Con Lewes

Maria Caulfield is concerned about the lack of accountability for when services are not commissioned locally. She highlighted difficulties caused by long waits in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), with families struggling to access necessary support, often turning to her as their last point of contact. She also mentioned the need for a national strategy and the importance of early diagnosis in schools, noting positive findings from an autism early diagnosis pilot in Bradford involving £600,000 investment over three years.

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