Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring that NHS mental health trusts do not discharge patients with high PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores without robust safety planning and follow-up support; and what guidance his Department has issued to help prevent such cases.

In 2024, statutory guidance was issued on discharge from all mental health, and learning disability and autism inpatient settings, under the NHS Act 2006. The guidance also sets out that prior to discharge, robust planning and safety management should be developed for all patients, in collaboration with the person and their chosen carer or carers with input from relevant members of the multi-disciplinary team.

For individuals detained under the Mental Health Act, in the Mental Health Act 2025, passed this year, we have strengthened discharge decision making by requiring consultation with another professional before discharge, as well as introducing requirements around care and treatment planning. We will provide further guidance on this in the revised Code of Practice.