Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December 2021 to Question 84320 on Mental Health Services: Children, when his Department plans to publish the results of the NHS England and NHS Improvement consultation on the potential to introduce five new waiting time standards.

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.