Written question asked by Karen Lumley (Conservative) on Monday, 31 October 2016, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 November 2016. It was answered by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford (Conservative) on Monday, 7 November 2016 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Mental Health Services: Worcestershire

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to talking therapies in Worcestershire.

Answer: Talking therapy services are provided through the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme, led by NHS England. There are a number of routes into the programme including general practice referral and self-referral. The programme aims to ensure that services provide treatment within six weeks for 75% of people referred to the programme, and that 95% of people are treated within 18 weeks. These waiting time standards were introduced by the Government from 1 April 2015.

Secondary information