Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has he made of the adequacy of mental health services in Greater Manchester.

We recognise that people with mental health issues, including those in Greater Manchester, are not getting the support or care they need, which is why we are working to ensure the National Health Service provides the right support to the right people at the right time.

That is why, as part of our mission to build an NHS that is fit for the future and that is there when people need it, the Government is recruiting an additional 8,500 mental health workers, including psychiatrists, by the end of this Parliament. We are more than halfway towards this target, which will help to ease pressure on busy mental health services.

The 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to boost mental health support across the country, including in Greater Manchester. We will transform the current mental health system so people can access the right support at the right time in the right place. This includes transforming mental health services into 24/7 neighbourhood mental health centres, building on existing pilots, and investing up to £120 million to bring the number of mental health emergency departments up to 85.