To ask the Minister of Health (i) why cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is being removed from Portaferry Surgery; and (ii) whether CBT services will continue to be provided by primary care via GP surgeries within all Health and Social Care Trusts.

(i) The Northern Ireland Local Enhanced Service (NI LES) for Mild to Moderate Depression enables practices to employ practice-based counsellors to provide counselling for patients (aged 18 years and above) with mild to moderate depression.

This service ensures that patients receive care from competent practitioners for mild to moderate depression with low intensity psychosocial interventions such as individual guided self-help based on the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

Portaferry Surgery is among 185 practices throughout NI contracted to provide this service in the 2024/25 financial year.

The service has not been withdrawn from Portaferry Surgery.

All practices contracted to provide this service are allocated funding to provide mild to moderate (MMD) depression counselling sessions. With regards to Portaferry Surgery the practice was allocated additional funding in year that will allow the practice to continue providing counselling sessions.

(ii) The NI LES Mild to Moderate Depression service is an enhanced service which covers enhanced aspects of clinical care of a patient - all of which are beyond the scope of essential General Medical Services. They are therefore not mandatory and as independent contractors GP Practices have the choice to contract to provide this service or not.