Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to cut waiting times for referrals to mental health support.

Too many people have waited too long for the mental health support they need. The Government is determined to transform mental health services so that people can access high-quality care when and where they need it.

We are working with NHS England to improve access to mental health services across the country, including by establishing 159 new mental health centres in local communities. Since taking office, the Government has also added thousands of staff to the mental health workforce, helping services to provide timely, high-quality care.

Later this year, we will publish a new mental health strategy for England. It will set out how we will widen access, intervene earlier, reduce waiting times, and ensure that more people receive the right support in their local communities.

We are also strengthening support in schools, primary care, and local communities so that people can get help earlier and closer to home. Alongside expanding the mental health workforce, NHS England is working with local systems to improve referral pathways, make better use of service capacity, and reduce unwarranted variation in access and waiting times.