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 increase access to mental health support for patients with (a) Crohn's disease and (b) ulcerative colitis.

The Government is committed to supporting everyone’s mental health and wellbeing, and ensuring that the right support is in place, including for those with long term physical health conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

We have made it clear to local commissioners that we expect NHS talking therapies to be integrated into physical healthcare pathways. Our NHS long term plan commits to an additional £2.3 billion a year for the expansion of mental health services by 2024, so that an additional two million people, including those with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, can access National Health Service-funded mental health support.