Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Accepted
Implementation of new mental health waiting time standards for community services remains uncertain.
Conclusion
In 2022, NHSE consulted on new waiting times standards for mental health services in the community and A&E for both children and adults, with most (81%) respondents to the consultation in favour of the new standards. If implemented, these would represent a major extension of performance standards for mental health services. However, NHSE could not confirm whether or when these will be implemented.28 It told us that it is yet to agree with the Government around “trajectories for working towards meeting those standards” which will in part depend on “having the services and the workforce available”.29 21 Qq 100, 128–133 22 Q 103; PMS0027, pages 5–6; PMS0017, pages 2–3 23 Qq 17–28, 103 24 Qq 103, 105–115 25 Qq 13, 88, 98; C&AG’s Report, para 9. 26 Qq 92–98, 27 Qq 13–17, 30, 33–34, 88–89, 98–100; C&AG’s Report, para 2.8 28 Qq 100–101; C&AG’s Report, para 1.13 29 Q 101 12 Progress in improving NHS mental health services NHSE explained that it has undertaken a “huge amount of work” to introduce and improve data collection over the last few years in preparation for the new standards. Stakeholders, for example, the Centre for Mental Health, agreed that improving data systems for the new standards was necessary and would take time. But it argued that this was a “chicken and egg” issue, and that poor data should not stop the standards being rolled out as their introduction would provide the impetus for providers to improve data.30 30 Qq 29,101 Progress in improving NHS mental health services 13 2 Risks to future improvement and sustainability Delivery through integrated care boards
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's findings, noting ongoing work to develop new waiting time standards. It aims to publish data for mental health community waiting times by the end of the financial year to enable analysis and the setting of appropriate performance standards. An update will be provided in January 2024.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Target implementation date: January 2024 5.2 Waiting time standards already exist within Mental Health services; specifically for CYP Eating Disorder Services (95% of CYP with eating disorders accessing treatment within 1 week for urgent cases and 4 weeks for routine cases) as well as NHS Talking Therapies services (75% of people accessing treatment within 6 weeks and 95% of people accessing treatment within 18 weeks), as detailed in the Mental Health Implementation Plan. 5.3 Over the course of the Clinical Review of Standards (CRS), a patient-centred waiting time standard, informed by pilot sites, lived experience advisors and clinical experts was developed, and a public consultation undertaken. 5.4 Urgent and Emergency Care waiting times data was published on 13 July 2023. Collecting data to measure community waits for mental health is more complex and so will take longer, but the aim is to publish data for mental health community waiting times by the end of the financial year. Work also continues to improve data quality. 5.5 Once robust baseline data has been collected, work can begin to analyse appropriate standards given projected demand, capacity and resources. Setting a performance standard (i.e. the percentage of people accessing treatment in line with this measure) will need to be considered in the light of this further work and available resources. 5.6 NHS England will provide an update on progress as part of its joint letter with DHSC to the Committee in January 2024.