Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with NHS England and other key stakeholders on putting in place support for families visiting relatives who are receiving out-of-area mental health treatment.

Departmental officials meet regularly with NHS England and other key stakeholders to discuss progress towards meeting the commitment to eliminate inappropriate out of area placements in non-specialist, acute mental health care by 2020/21.

It is expected that local providers and commissioners should involve families and carers in patients’ care, and this includes making adjustments and supporting people to remain in contact with local support networks such as friends, families and carers to support the person’s recovery.

Patients on low incomes are able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).