Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what challenges his Department has identified in reducing waiting times for psychological therapy, and what assessment has been made of how these affect access for people seeking support to stay in or return to work.

Support to improve employment outcomes is embedded within NHS Talking Therapies services. Employment advisers are available in all NHS Talking Therapies services in England and work alongside therapists to provide tailored employment support alongside psychological therapy. In general, people referred for employment support should be able to access this within four weeks, and where appropriate, employment support can be provided alongside therapy, or earlier where there is an urgent work‑related issue.

For people with more severe mental illness, we are also expanding Individual Placement and Support, so that 73,500 people can access this evidence‑based programme by March 2028. More widely, we recognise that the fit note process is not working as effectively as it should in supporting people to manage health conditions at work. Through initiatives such as the WorkWell Primary Care Innovation Fund, local areas are piloting improved ways of connecting people to appropriate work and health support, helping to support earlier returns to work and reduce avoidable pressure on psychological therapy services. Wider work to better join up health and employment support includes initiatives such as Health and Growth Accelerators, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/funding-boost-to-support-patients-to-stay-in-and-return-to-work

We keep waiting times for psychological therapies under regular review through national performance oversight and engagement with NHS England and local systems. This includes assessing whether further system‑level measures are required where waits remain longest and understanding how these affect people’s ability to stay in, or return to, work.