Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what mental health care systems in England require a clinical diagnosis prior to treatment; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of this requirement on (a) young people’s waiting times for mental health treatment and (b) the effectiveness of the treatment they receive.

The interim report of the independent review into mental health conditions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism found that access to support is too often slow, fragmented, and heavily dependent on having a diagnosis. Where support depends heavily on a formal diagnosis, demand for assessment can outstrip capacity, contributing to long waits, repeated assessments, and pressure on services. Diagnosis remains essential to inform treatment and enhance understanding, but the review is considering how people can receive appropriate support earlier and according to need. Its final report will make recommendations for the Government, the health system, and wider public services.