Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to achieve the target of 60 per cent of people with a severe mental illness receiving an annual physical health check by 2020-21.

The NHS has committed to ensure that 60% of people with severe mental illness receive a comprehensive physical health-check and follow up, as part of the NHS Long Term Plan.

NHS England has issued communications to general practitioner surgeries to ensure that the physical health of those living with severe mental illness is protected this winter. This includes asking practices to identify people with severe mental illness who are clinically vulnerable and offering those people comprehensive physical health checks and follow up interventions, free flu vaccines, depending on their eligibility, and a care plan review as appropriate.

Public Health England will issue tailored communications to those with severe mental illness around protecting their physical health this winter, and to encourage them to take up their free flu vaccination if eligible.