Care Quality Commission: Mental Health Care Waiting Times

Baroness Berger Excerpts

Thursday 8th May 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I thank the noble Baroness for raising her experience with her family. It is clear that patients are individual people and they need to be cared for and communicated with in the way that is appropriate to them. So I am sorry to hear what she reports; that is not what we expect. If she has not already provided the details, I will be pleased to look into the matter she raises, because it has repercussions across the whole system, as she rightly says.

[Baroness Berger (Lab)]

My Lords, the overwhelming majority of mental health conditions start in childhood and adolescence, and we need to do everything to give those children and young people the very best start in life. Yet, regrettably, we know that there are 35,000 children in this country who have been on a waiting list for two years or more. I listened closely to my noble friend on the excellent work that this Government are doing with the support teams in schools, but for those children and young people who have met the threshold for services, what more can be done to alleviate these unacceptable waits?

[Baroness Merron (Lab)]

I pay tribute to my noble friend for her contribution in supporting awareness and improved mental health, not just for young people but in maternity settings and across all mental health services. This morning I was at Alexandra Park School, where I saw what I regard as the exemplar for what my noble friend is talking about, because we need to prevent mental ill-health in young people. That is why we are extending the mental health support teams to ensure that every school has that available. While that is being developed, funding is available for mental health leads in schools. We are also working with local areas to ensure that they meet their obligations to the local community, which of course includes young people. I also feel that our Young Futures hubs will make a big difference. I agree with her: we have inherited a difficult position, but I assure your Lordships’ House that we are working to make progress, particularly for young people.