Oral Answers to Questions

Rebecca Pow Excerpts

Tuesday 10th October 2017 Commons Chamber

[Jackie Doyle-Price]

I say again that many women have received relief from their symptoms following this procedure, but we need more evidence before we can properly review it, so it is important that we allow NICE to undertake its work so that we can take a clear view. Any procedure comes with risk—no surgery is without it—but obviously the more evidence we can gather, the better we can advise women of those risks.

[Rebecca Pow (Taunton Deane) (Con)]

5. What plans he has for the implementation of the NHS’s five year forward view for mental health.

[Anna Soubry (Broxtowe) (Con)]

14. What plans he has for the implementation of the NHS’s Five Year Forward View for Mental Health.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Jackie Doyle-Price)]

We are making good progress on the implementation of the five year forward view for mental health. We have published a workforce plan and invested more money than ever before, and we are providing care to 120,000 more people this year compared with 2013.

[Rebecca Pow]

The charity Mind recently produced a report called “Feel better outside, feel better inside”, which advocated the benefits of eco-therapy—using activities such as gardening, farming and exercise. The National Garden Scheme has also produced a publication on this. Is the treatment being utilised within the NHS?

[Jackie Doyle-Price]

I thank my hon. Friend for her work in this area. Yes, I can give her that assurance. It is welcome that local authorities and clinical commissioning groups are considering innovative approaches concentrating on wellbeing, as well as acute services, and eco-therapy is part of that agenda.