Oral Answers to Questions

Liz Twist Excerpts

Tuesday 9th June 2026 Commons Chamber

[James Murray]

The renewed women’s health strategy was a really important achievement under the previous Secretary of State, which updated the approach of this Government and reflected the differences in healthcare that women too often receive. If I might offer a personal reflection, since I have become Secretary of State, one issue that many women have raised with me is that they do not feel the health service adequately listens to them, takes their pain seriously, or gives them the right pathways to get the treatment they need. That must change, and this Government will change it.

[Liz Twist (Blaydon and Consett) (Lab)]

4. What assessment he has made of the adequacy of progress on implementing the suicide prevention strategy for England.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Preet Kaur Gill)]

This Government are committed to delivering the five-year, cross-Government suicide prevention strategy, and have published NHS England’s “Staying safe from suicide” guidance. Although progress has been made, we recognise that there is more to do and will continue to drive delivery of the strategy.

[Liz Twist]

The strategy said that it would

“reduce the suicide rate over the next 5 years—with initial reductions observed within half this time or sooner”.

However, we have now passed the halfway point, and sadly, those initial reductions have not been achieved. What is the Government’s plan to ensure that target is achieved by the end of the strategy?

[Preet Kaur Gill]

First, I commend my hon. Friend for her tireless campaigning to improve mental health and prevent suicides—I know this is personal for her. We have made progress on implementing the strategy, including launching the near to real-time suspected suicide surveillance system to detect trends earlier. We have also committed £3.6 million in support for middle-aged men for areas that need it, ensuring that it is co-produced with families and local partners so that it is accessible. We plan to update the strategy, which will consider the evidence, the progress so far, and where there are opportunities to go further, but I would welcome my hon. Friend’s input into this very important work.