Care Quality Commission: Mental Health Care Waiting Times

Baroness Wyld Excerpts

Thursday 8th May 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

As the noble Baroness says, we reduced the number of targets on the basis of the recommendation by the noble Lord, Lord Darzi, that having so many targets was not delivering the results that we want. We have had to think boldly and innovatively. Since July 2023, NHS England has included waiting time metrics for referrals to urgent and community-based mental health services. I am looking at how we can drive improvements in quality and in the data to help services, particularly those with the most lengthy waits. I will also review the 2021-22 clinical review of standards to consider what else can be done to put mental health on a more equal footing, which it absolutely deserves.

[Baroness Wyld (Con)]

My Lords, what are the Government doing to improve access to perinatal mental health services? The Minister will appreciate the urgency, given that suicide remains a leading cause of maternal death.

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

It is particularly appropriate that the noble Baroness raises this issue, as it is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week. Yesterday I was very glad to attend an event organised by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, where I spoke to women about their experience and what has made—or not made—a difference to them. I know we are looking forward to a debate on this later in the year, but 41 maternal mental health services have already been set up to provide care for women with moderate, severe or complex mental health difficulties, and more than 62,000 women are reported to have accessed a specialist community perinatal mental health service or a maternal mental health service. Additionally, 165 beds have now been commissioned across England in 20 mother and baby units, providing in-patient care to women. But yes, we need to do more.