Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the covid-19 outbreak, if he will increase the level of funding allocated from the public purse for the provision of mental health counselling for NHS staff.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 response, the Department commissioned NHS England and NHS Improvement to develop a comprehensive package of emotional, psychological, and practical support for National Health Service staff.

In response, NHS England and NHS Improvement have invested in a range of services to support the health and mental wellbeing of NHS staff, including virtual staff common rooms for mutual support, a dedicated support helpline and text service (in partnership with Samaritans), and a separate helpline offering bereavement support (in partnership with Hospice UK).

More information on support available to all NHS staff is online at the following link:

people.nhs.uk/help