Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce delays in response times in mental health services in (a) Wiltshire and (b) Gloucestershire.

It is unacceptable that too many people in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire are not receiving the mental health care they need, and we know that waits for mental health services are far too long.

That is why we will recruit 8,500 additional mental health workers nationally across both adult and children and young people’s mental health services to improve response times, reduce delays, and provide faster treatment, which will also help ease pressure on busy mental health services.

In addition, people of all ages who are in crisis or who are concerned about a family or loved one can now call 111, select the mental health option, and speak to a trained mental health professional. National Health Service staff can guide callers with next steps such as organising face-to-face community support or facilitating access to alternative services, like crisis cafés or safe havens, which provide a place for people to stay as an alternative to accident and emergency or a hospital admission.