New NHS waiting times for mental health conditions a step closer
Plans set out new targets for NHS bodies to help people who have mental health problems.

Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.People with ānon urgentā mental health problems will receive help within four weeks for non-urgent treatment under new NHS plans.
Patients who are in need of urgent support will be seen by crisis teams within a day under proposals to improve timely access to care.
And emergency patients will be seen by specialists teams within an hour of a referral from A&E.
NHS England officials said they have received āwidespread supportā for the new targets following a consultation.
The service is now working on plans to achieve the targets ahead of setting them in stone.
Claire Murdoch, national mental health director for the NHS in England, said: āThe proposed new standards are good news for patients and if agreed will ensure they get timely access to mental health services, when they need them most.
āLaying out the next steps for implementing these new proposals will be another key milestone in the journey to putting mental health on an equal footing with physical health, so-called āparity of esteemā.ā
Mental health minister Gillian Keegan, said: āImproving access to mental health services is a top priority.
āThese new standards would help patients get support faster ā including having a face-to-face assessment within one hour of being referred from A&E.ā
Mark Winstanley, chief executive of Rethink Mental Illness, said: āWe applaud the NHS for taking this important step, the urgent task at hand is to now ensure the resources, including workforce, are in place to deliver against the waiting times, and more broadly growing demand is not only addressed through the NHS, but a wider and comprehensive cross government plan on mental health.ā
Paul Farmer, chief executive at mental health charity Mind, added: āIf achieved, these changes would provide people needing support with their mental health with the rapid help they require.
āToo often mental health support isnāt there as quickly as itās needed, but with these targets, as well as greater transparency when they are missed, much needed change can be brought about.ā
The NHS Confederationās Mental Health Network welcomed the announcement but said that the targets themselves āwill not lead to improvementsā.
The networkās chief executive Sean Duggan said: āWhile the targets in themselves wonāt lead to improvements, they will increase transparency for patients and the wider public, allow NHS teams to measure their progress, and they can help shine a brighter light on the need for more targeted resources for services.ā