Oral Answers to Questions

Nigel Mills Excerpts

Tuesday 15th January 2019 Commons Chamber

[James Cartlidge (South Suffolk) (Con)]

11. What steps he is taking to ensure the adequacy of mental health service provision in the long term.

[Nigel Mills (Amber Valley) (Con)]

16. What steps he is taking to ensure the adequacy of mental health service provision in the long term.

--- Later in debate ---

[Jackie Doyle-Price]

My hon. Friend is quite right: I have stood at this Dispatch Box a number of times to address concerns from all the local MPs in Norfolk and Suffolk. I can advise him and the House that the trust is receiving increased oversight and enhanced support from NHS Improvement. It is in special measures for quality reasons. It is also receiving peer support from the East London NHS Foundation Trust, which is an excellent and outstanding trust. We will continue to take a close interest in developments, but I can assure him that the trust is receiving every possible attention to improve its performance.

[Nigel Mills]

Will the Minister also set out what steps will be taken to ensure that care for someone experiencing a mental health crisis is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week?

[Jackie Doyle-Price]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his question, because this was top of my list of asks as we were developing the forward plan. The NHS has reiterated its commitment to ensure that a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week community-based mental health crisis response for all adults is in place across England by 2020-21. All adults experiencing a mental health crisis will be able to be directed to support via NHS 111. This is based on best practice as shown by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust. I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his interest in this, and I can assure him that NHS England, all the commissioners and I are very much on it.