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Written question asked by Andrew Mitchell (Conservative) on Wednesday, 13 May 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 18 May 2026. It was answered by Preet Kaur Gill (Labour) on Friday, 22 May 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Insomnia: Mental Health Services

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of patients waiting for more than (a) 1 month, (b) 3 months (c) 6 months and (d) 12 months to receive cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia.

Answer

It is for local integrated care boards to decide whether cognitive behavioural therapy should be offered to their populations as a treatment for insomnia.

NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression offer low-intensity therapy which may include interventions around sleep hygiene. Talking Therapies data do not record whether a patient has insomnia. Through the 10-Year Health Plan we are expanding NHS Talking Therapies so that 915,000 people complete a course of treatment by March 2029.

Individuals who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression can be referred by their general practitioner, or can self-refer, to NHS Talking Therapies. People can also access helpful resources on sleep problems on the Every Mind Matters website at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-health-issues/sleep/

In addition, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s Prioritisation Board has recently agreed to prioritise digital technologies that deliver cognitive behavioural therapy interventions for insomnia and insomnia symptoms as a topic for the development of HealthTech guidance.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
35
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Mental health services Waiting lists Insomnia
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk