Mental Health Services: Huntington’s Disease

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath Excerpts

Monday 12th June 2023 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Hunt of Kings Heath]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the number of people with Huntington’s disease displaying mental health symptoms who are being denied access to mental health services on the grounds that it is an organic brain disorder.

[Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lab)]

In begging leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper, I apologise to the House as I should have declared my GMC board interest in the previous oral intervention.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care (Lord Markham) (Con)]

NHS England has not made an assessment, as this is not data that is routinely collected or would be captured. Minister Whately has asked NHS England to look into reports that people with Huntington’s disease are being denied access to mental health services. NHS England is also in the process of developing a neuropsychiatry service specification, which will outline the approach to caring for patients with neurological conditions who require mental health support.

[Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lab)]

I am grateful to the Minister for that positive Answer. He may be aware that the Huntington’s Disease Association has research which shows, first, that many people with that disease suffer from severe mental health issues and, secondly, that in many parts of the country NHS mental health services refuse to give mental health treatment to those people. In addition to the work that his fellow Minister is requiring from NHS England, will the department look at the training of mental health staff so that they have the capability to support people with Huntingdon’s disease who have mental health issues?

[Lord Markham (Con)]

Yes. The noble Lord has heard me say many times that I have really come to appreciate the Questions format for looking into areas that might otherwise not be seen. I thank the noble Lord and the Huntington’s Disease Association for bringing this to our attention. We have the steps in place but that is a good point about the training.