Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department has issued on the resumption of face-to-face treatments for counselling and psychotherapy services; and how many such face-to-face treatments have been delivered in each month of the last 12 months.

The National Health Service has issued guidance to services to support them in managing demand and capacity across inpatient and community mental health services and keeping services open for business at this time.

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services, which include counselling and psychotherapy, are expected to adhere to the broader Government guidance on working in COVID-safe environments to ensure that both staff and patients are protected. IAPT services continue to offer therapy via remote means, and any decision to restore face to face treatment will be a local decision, taking into account Government advice.