Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a waiting time standard for children’s mental health services.

NHS England and NHS Improvement have piloted a four-week waiting time standard to inform the Department’s assessment of the merits of introducing a waiting time standard. NHS England and NHS Improvement consulted on the definition and introduction of five waiting time standards. The consultation closed on 1 September 2021 and found that more than 80% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the proposal to introduce additional mental health access and waiting time measures, including for children and young people presenting to community-based mental health services. The consultation’s report is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/2022/02/widespread-support-for-proposed-nhs-mental-health-access-standards-for-patients/

We will work with NHS England and NHS Improvement on the next steps for the proposed mental health access and waiting measures.