Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of provision of mental health support, trauma counselling and bereavement counselling for the survivors of Grenfell Tower and their families; and if he will make a statement.

The Department is working closely with those responsible for co-ordinating the Grenfell Tower Mental Health response.

The National Health Service has had staff on the ground since day one, helping the people affected first with the immediate physical health emergency, and, as time has moved on, with developing psychological health and wellbeing needs. This was phase 1 of our response plan. We are now in phase 2.

Phase 1 comprised treating the physical symptoms, making sure patients are general practitioner (GP) registered and know where to go, putting resilient systems in place for when the psychological impact kicks in, planning ahead and ensuring adequate primary care and mental health resource is in place, and ensuring all NHS organisations are united and efficiently coordinated.

Phase 2 comprises implementing a ‘screen and treat’ programme to proactively contact people affected by the fire, beginning with those who also have a long-term health condition, and assess the psychological impact the fire has had on them. The first 1,200 screenings have begun. If a patient shows signs of trauma such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms they will be referred on to a mental health professional or appropriate wellbeing service. If they are not showing signs of trauma at this time, the GP will follow up with them again in a suitable period of time.