Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing open access care models in mental health services; and if he will take steps to ensure that people have access to timely support without requiring referral or meeting high eligibility thresholds.

I refer the Hon. Member to the announcement on this subject made by my rt. Hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on 5 August 2026, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-expansion-of-community-mental-health-support-across-england