PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Mental Health Services: Standards (26 March 2026)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve acute mental health inpatient units.

Asked by:
Alison Bennett (Liberal Democrat)

Anyone receiving mental health treatment deserves safe, high-quality care. We have fulfilled our manifesto commitment to reform the Mental Health Act. We set a national expectation to eliminate inappropriate out of area placements by March 2028, to ensure continuity of care. Where care falls short, this Government is absolutely committed to learning and taking action to protect patients, and to improve inpatient mental health care. That is why we have announced a statutory inquiry into Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust.
Answered by:
Dr Zubir Ahmed (Labour)
14 April 2026