Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 21
21
Deferred
Paragraph: 90
Commission women's health hubs to include mental health support in core specification in underserved areas
Conclusion
Women’s health hubs situated in areas where access to appropriate mental health services is lacking should be commissioned to include mental health support as part of their core specification.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government's response focuses on the importance of training for primary care professionals in women's reproductive health and existing resources. It states NHS England is assessing workforce training gaps and scoping future clinical training needs but does not commit to commissioning mental health support as part of women's health hubs.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
90
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
We are committed to moving towards a neighbourhood health service, with more care delivered in local communities to spot problems earlier. Women’s health hubs are an example of this approach and can play an important role in delivering the government’s manifesto commitments on tackling long NHS waiting lists, as well as shifting care into the community. ICBs are responsible for commissioning services that meet the healthcare needs of their local population, and they have the freedom to do so. The core specification for women’s health hubs (linked in the government response to ‘Recommendation 3’ in ‘Public understanding of reproductive health conditions’ above) sets out that their purpose is not to replace or duplicate existing specialist services. Rather, they should act as a mechanism to improve pathways into these services, including mental health services where required. This could include: commissioning mental health provision within women’s health hubs offering clear referral pathways from women’s health hubs to mental health services or through other routes
Read the full response on Parliament ↗