Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost-saving implications of using video conferencing for (1) the delivery of mental health services, and (2) non-emergency GP consultations.

No assessment has been made on the cost-saving implications of using video conferencing for delivery of mental health services or non-emergency General Practitioner (GP) consultations. Video consultations allow many more people to receive safe and effective care without the cost and disruption of having to travel to their GP, hospital or clinic.

NHSX and NHS Digital are working with NHS England and NHS Improvement to support the continued deployment and effective implementation of video consultations across primary and secondary care. Mental health services largely remained open for business during the pandemic as services were quickly moved to providing advice and support remotely, either through telephone/videoconferencing or digital services.