Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will hold discussions with the Bedfordshire Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board on funding options for a health hub in Leighton Buzzard and Linslade.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government recognises the pressure on primary care infrastructure in Leighton Buzzard and Linslade, and across the wider National Health Service estate. We acknowledge that, nationally, change is desperately needed to bring healthcare closer to home, to provide patients with the care they deserve.
Unfortunately, the Minister cannot commit to meeting with the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board (ICB) at this time. However, we would encourage the ICB and indeed staff and patients to contribute to our forthcoming consultation on the 10-year plan for Health which, among other things, will consider this Government’s ambition to move healthcare from acute settings to the community. We would welcome contributions for those who recognise the need to invest in our primary care estate to make this ambition a reality.
Asked by: Alex Mayer (Labour - Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to tackle waiting lists for mental health services in Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard constituency.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Waiting lists for those referred for support are too high, and especially so for young people. People with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they deserve, which is why we will fix the broken system and ensure that people can be confident in accessing high quality mental health support when they need it.
The Government will recruit 8,500 additional staff across children and adult mental health services, introduce a specialist mental health professional in every school, and roll out the Young Futures hubs to further support young people’s mental health.