With The Huntington's Disease Association having identified poor access to mental health services for those living with the condition, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has called on the Welsh Government to outline what actions it will take to ensure people with neurological conditions can access the mental health support they need.
Speaking in this afternoon's Business Statement in the Senedd Chamber, Mr Isherwood called for a Welsh Government Statement from the Health Secretary or the Mental Health Minister on access to mental health services for people with neurological conditions such as Huntington's disease.
He said:
"This progressive condition affects movement, thinking and behaviour, and each child of an affected parent has a 50 per cent chance of inheriting it.
"The Huntington's Disease Association have found that community mental health services can be difficult for people with the condition to access, with teams often lacking an awareness of Huntington's and its impact on mental health.
"Last year, NHS England published guidance making clear that people should not be excluded from mental health services because they have a neurological condition. The Huntington's Disease Association have confirmed that this guidance has been used to help patients get support, and they're having meaningful conversations with NHS Wales Performance and Improvement to ensure Huntington's disease patients in Wales are also able to access the mental health support they require.
"I therefore call for a Statement outlining what actions the Welsh Government will take to ensure that people with neurological conditions such as Huntington's disease are able to access the mental health support they need and deserve."
Responding, the Trefnydd (Business Manager) Jane Hutt said:
"Obviously, we will look into this in terms of that question, but I would say that it would be good to be able to raise that question with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, who has his one last oral Senedd questions, I believe, in the next fortnight."
