Mental Health In-patient Services: Improving Safety

Debate between Charlotte Nichols and Steve Barclay

Wednesday 28th June 2023 Commons Chamber

[Steve Barclay]

First, I do not want to wait for legislation before we make changes. Indeed, under the leadership of Paul Scott, who joined EPUT in 2020, investment has been made, with an extra £20 million being put into the in-patient wards and a further £20 million into community services. We are keen to make further progress on that. On the wider issue of legislation, I know that my hon. Friend, as a former Government Whip, is particularly acquainted with how the legislative process works, but the Government take her comments, and those of the House, on engaging staff in this process seriously, and we are working very actively on that.

[Charlotte Nichols (Warrington North) (Lab)]

It is vital that the Government work with sector experts and those with lived experience of in-patient mental health services in getting this vital area of policy right. As someone who spent almost a month as a psychiatric in-patient back in 2021, I know at first hand how difficult, disorientating and dehumanising these settings are, at a time when you are at your most vulnerable, and how easily things that are well-intentioned can and do go wrong. Will the Secretary of State therefore commit to working with Mind and other organisations giving patients and their families a voice to shape these improvements, to ensure that any changes happen with patients and their families, and not to them?

[Steve Barclay]

I very much agree on that. The hon. Lady speaks powerfully of the importance of engaging with those with experience—the charity sector, the families and those directly impacted by the decisions taken in in-patient mental health facilities. She makes an extremely pertinent point and it is very much part of the approach we are taking.

Oral Answers

Debate between Charlotte Nichols and Steve Barclay

Tuesday 25th April 2023 Commons Chamber

[Steve Barclay]

Now that I have found the right page in my notes I can be precise in telling my right hon. Friend that it is a 75.7% increase in his constituency, so he is absolutely right about that. Nationally, we have recruited an additional 25,262 full-time equivalent primary care professionals, so that is expanding the workforce capability in primary care. As my hon. Friend the Minister for Health and Secondary Care said a moment ago, it is part of our £1.5 billion investment in the workforce in primary care.

[Charlotte Nichols (Warrington North) (Lab)]

As the House will know, this week is MS Awareness Week. Early diagnosis and treatment of MS are vital to delay disability progression and help those with the condition to manage it, yet, currently, 13,000 people have been waiting more than a year for a neurology appointment after GP referral. A recent study suggested that the UK comes a shameful 44th out of 45 European countries for neurologists per head of population. When will the Government bring forward a strategy to attract, recruit and retain the neurology workforce?

[Steve Barclay]

The hon. Lady raises an important issue related to MS. I am happy to write to her with a more detailed answer about the capability and the plan. There is always a tendency within government to lurch to a strategy rather than to look at what is needed for immediate delivery. I will happily set out what steps we are taking now as part of our pandemic recovery in order to target the workforce within the constraints that she raises.