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Expand NHS talking therapies to 915,000 a year

“expanding NHS Talking Therapies so that 915,000 people complete a course of treatment by March 2029 - up from 670,000 last year.”

In planGet Britain Working white paper (GOV.UK), 26 Nov 2024
  2. In plan

Where it stands

In 2025-26, 674,683 referrals completed a course of NHS Talking Therapies, up 0.6% on the year before, with 50.1% reliably recovering (NHS England Digital, 24 September 2026); reaching 915,000 in 2028-29 needs about 36% more, and NHS England's interim target is 805,000 in 2026-27 with 51% recovery. The expansion was funded by the previous government's Autumn Statement 2023 (£220m in 2028-29) and kept by this government as an existing commitment; NHS England's plan sets the 915,000 target with a 53% recovery rate. The Department of Health and Social Care restated it on 9 October 2026. Figures count referrals, and one person can have more than one.

What has happened

  1. Nov 2024The Get Britain Working white paper commits to keep expanding NHS Talking Therapies, with 384,000 more people expected to complete a course, Promised
  2. Nov 2024The white paper sets the expansion out as part of the plan to tackle ill health-related economic inactivity, In plan evidence
  3. Dec 2025The Department of Health and Social Care sets the target as 915,000 people completing a course by March 2029, up from 670,000, following NHS England's October 2025 plan, Reworded evidence
  4. Mar 2029915,000 courses of NHS Talking Therapies in 2028-29 due by March 2029, Deadline

About the cost

Year used: 2028-29, the target year. The Autumn Statement 2023 costed "Talking Therapies: expand access and increase provision" at £220m in 2028-29, rising from £25m in 2024-25 (Table 5.1); central figure only, so low–high is an editorial ±10%. It was costed by the previous government for the expansion this government kept.

More detail

Sources (6)
Earlier wording (1)
  1. Version 2, 4 Dec 2025“expanding NHS Talking Therapies so that 915,000 people complete a course of treatment by March 2029 - up from 670,000 last year.”Cost then: £0.2bn to £0.24bn a year
  2. Version 1, 26 Nov 2024“the government has committed to continuing to expand access to NHS Talking Therapies for adults with common mental health conditions in England. This is expected to increase the number of people completing courses of treatment by 384,000 and increase the number of sessions.”
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