Overview

This bill aims to improve access to mental health services in England and Wales by setting maximum waiting times for treatment and establishing standards for evidence-based psychological therapies. It mandates the inclusion of psychological therapies in existing regulations governing waiting times and access to specialists.

Description

The Access to Mental Health Services Bill seeks to achieve its goals through several key mechanisms:

• Waiting Times: The bill requires the Secretary of State to set maximum waiting times for mental health treatment, including psychological therapies, by amending existing NHS regulations.
• Urgent Referrals: It introduces a duty to provide an appointment with a specialist within 28 days for at least 93% of patients urgently referred for mental health treatment. The Secretary of State can specify which conditions qualify for urgent referral and provide for alternative providers if the 28-day target isn't met.
• Eligible Referrers: The bill expands the range of professionals who can refer patients for mental health services to include psychologists, community psychiatric nurses, and social workers.
• Psychological Therapies: It mandates the inclusion of psychological therapies as a "health technology" within the scope of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), ensuring they are considered when setting treatment standards.

Government Spending

The bill states that any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State under the Act, and any increases in sums payable under other Acts attributable to this Act, will be paid from money provided by Parliament. No specific figures are provided in the bill itself.

Groups Affected

• Individuals with mental health problems: The bill aims to improve access to timely and appropriate care for this group, potentially reducing waiting times and improving treatment outcomes.
• NHS Trusts and Clinical Commissioning Groups: They will be responsible for implementing the new waiting time standards and ensuring compliance with the Act's requirements, potentially necessitating additional resources and changes in service delivery.
• Mental health professionals (psychologists, community psychiatric nurses, social workers): Their roles may be expanded, and they may experience increased workload due to the new referral pathways and treatment standards.
• NICE: The inclusion of psychological therapies in NICE's purview may require adjustments to their guidelines and assessment processes.

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