YORK MP Rachael Maskell has met a minister about the crisis in mental health treatment facing York.

Ms Maskell met junior health department minister Alistair Burt to talk about the urgent need for a new mental health hospital in York, replacing the ageing Bootham Park.

She said: "It was an initial meeting and he was there to learn about the situation in York.

"I think it's absolutely vital that we get an improved services, so it's important to keep the pressure on.

"It was a positive meeting, and certainly did not get the feeling he will be turning his back on the matter."

Mental health is set to be a priority for the York Central MP in her newly confirmed seat on the Health Select Committee.

She has secured one of 11 seats on the committee, and said she would be working to make sure outsourcing of health services was scrutinised, and as looking at she called the Government's "un-achievable" efficiency targets for the NHS.

The Labour MP has also called in the Commons for proper funding for mental health services, by tabling an Early Day Motion calling for the services to be properly resourced financially and with trained professionals.

The motion, which has already been signed by 29 MPs across different parties, says that one in four people are affected by mental health issues every year and services should be accessed at the earliest opportunity, including concentrating on prevention, resilience and wellbeing, as well as focusing on rehabilitation.

Ms Maskell said: “I have been contacted by a number of my constituents in York Central who tell me about the delays they have experienced with getting help for a mental health problem.

"A recent survey from the mental health charity, Mind, shows that over 40 per cent of people have to wait three months just to find out if they can have treatment and one in ten has to wait for a year.

"This is completely unsatisfactory with many people experiencing further delays before starting their treatment. Furthermore many people do not get given a choice of treatment and some receive incorrect medication or counselling which does not help them."