King’s Speech

Baroness Hollins Excerpts

Friday 19th July 2024 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hollins (CB)]

My Lords, it is a pleasure to respond to the gracious Speech and to have had a chance to hear inspired contributions from so many noble Lords. In particular, I applaud the valedictory speech by the noble Baroness, Lady Jolly, who will be hugely missed. I also congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Monckton, on her wonderful maiden speech. I add my welcome to the new Ministers here today and congratulate the new Government on their commitment to give equal attention to mental health as to physical health.

Equal attention means investing equally in the workforce and the NHS estate. It means addressing waiting lists and delayed discharges in mental health services. It means investing in research, in prevention and in the availability of evidence-based therapies. It also means attending to wider societal influences on the mental health and well-being of everyone. That includes an education that prepares each child for their future lives. It includes having a meaningful occupation, a purpose and a sense of truly belonging.

I agree with the noble Baroness, Lady Monckton, that believing in people helps them to believe in themselves. I also note the comments by the noble Lord, Lord Baker, about employability skills, teamwork, communication skills and the ability to take initiative and responsibility. I would add knowing how to take care of one’s health and well-being. That includes being able to safely manage social media, which is such a huge threat to the mental health of young people.

The noble Baroness, Lady Smith of Malvern, spoke about the importance of protection and support for children, to ensure their best start in life. The roots of good mental health are established in infancy. We know that adverse childhood experiences affect both physical and mental health; ACEs are associated with obesity and mental illness, and having five or more ACEs is associated with a significantly reduced life expectancy, perhaps by as much as 20 years.

I was a member of the Joint Committee on the Draft Mental Health Bill in the last Parliament. I must emphasise the injustices that too many autistic people and people with a learning disability currently experience, often because of wider system failures. NHS data shows that 92% of people with a learning disability and/or autistic people who are in mental health hospitals are detained there, under the Mental Health Act, for an average length of stay of nearly five years. Last year I reported on the lack of a therapeutic environment and on the high levels of restrictions that people may be subjected to, and the traumatic impact of these.

None of the ambitions laid out around improving health outcomes will be achievable without the transformation of social care. We could learn from neighbouring countries such as Italy, Germany and Denmark. We could learn from pilots here at home in Tower Hamlets and the Black Country. We could commit to continuing evidence-based programmes such as the national HOPE(S) programme, a person-centred human rights and practice leadership programme whose funding runs out early next year. Since 2022, HOPE(S) has enabled 64 autistic people and people with learning disabilities to leave confinement in a psychiatric hospital, some of whom have been locked in sensory and socially deprived spaces for more than seven years. One in six of those now lives in their own homes in the community. Beyond the human benefits, return-on-investment analysis for HOPE(S) shows that people can be treated with respect and dignity for less money. I hope the Minister will look into the funding needed to continue the national funding for HOPE(S).

The point is that legislation alone is not enough. Investment in culture change programmes such as HOPE(S) and in developing the right community support is essential. Given that, will the Minister outline to the House what plans the Government have to invest in community-based care, including the right social care provision and suitable housing, so that we do not end up with good legislation being hindered by a lack of adequate community support? I look forward to working with the noble Baroness, Lady Merron, during the progress of the Bill, and I live in hope.