Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure GPs are equipped to effectively signpost men facing mental health challenges to appropriate services.

General practitioners (GPs) are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge remains up to date and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development. This activity should include taking account of new research and developments in guidance, such as that produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, to ensure that they can continue to provide high quality care to all patients.

All United Kingdom registered doctors are expected to meet the professional standards set out in the General Medical Council’s (GMC’s) Good Medical Practice. In 2012, the GMC introduced revalidation which supports doctors in regularly reflecting on how they can develop or improve their practice, gives patients confidence doctors are up to date with their practice and promotes improved quality of care by driving improvements in clinical governance.

We are expanding NHS Talking Therapies which provide psychological support for people with a common mental health condition like stress, anxiety and depression. More than 670,000 people completed a course of Talking Therapies treatment last year and through the 10-Year Health Plan, 915,000 people are expected to complete a course of treatment by March 2029. Individuals can be referred by their GP or can self-refer.