Written question asked by Parmjit Dhanda (Labour) on Tuesday, 14 December 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 20 December 2004. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Monday, 20 December 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to increase the availability of cognitive behavioural therapy. - Inc ref to "Organising and Delivering Psychological Services".

Answer: Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the availability of cognitive behavioural therapy. [206009] Ms Rosie Winterton: The national mental health choice forum, which was convened in September 2004 by the National Institute for Mental Health in England, has been asked to produce a strategy for extending patient choice across the range of mental health services. The Forum will consider how best to increase the availability of all talking treatments including cognitive behaviour therapy. The Department also published "Organising and Delivering Psychological Services" in July, which aims to support the delivery of psychological therapy services by highlighting the key issues of access, waiting times, and improving care pathways.

Secondary information