MENTAL health chiefs in Bolton have welcomed a new raft of waiting time targets.

The trust responsible for the town's mental health services will be expected to hit the new measures by 2020.

The goals were revealed in a Department of Health paper spelling out its medium term goals for mental health services.

The new targets are estimated to cost an extra £130 million a year nationally.

It follows the Government's announcement that the first ever access targets for mental health will be introduced from next April.

Targets include ensuring 75 per cent of people referred for talking therapies for more common mental health problems within six weeks and 95 per cent within 18 weeks.

They also require that at least 50 per cent people experiencing a first episode of psychosis get National Institute for Health and Care Excellence-approved treatment within two weeks.

In Bolton, mental health services are provided by Greater Manchester West Mental Health Foundation Trust (GMW).

Gill Green, director of operations and nursing at GMW, said: “GMW has been a forerunner in improving access to mental health services across the trust’s patch.

"In recent years we’ve worked hard to put together not only investment but specialist expertise to deliver solutions that improve access to our services, such as the Section 136 suite at Royal Bolton Hospital.

“As such, the trust welcomes the vision for 2020 wholeheartedly and will continue to work with partners in primary care and criminal justice to make access to treatment easier for people who need it.

"The prominence being given to mental health services from government and national bodies can only be a good thing.”

Dr Barry Silvert, clinical director for integrated commissioning at NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “Mental health is a priority for Bolton CCG and we strongly believe in a parity of esteem between mental and physical health.

"For this reason, we already monitor waiting times for local mental health services and are currently working with providers to ensure that clear targets are included in new or revised contracts.

“In Bolton, we are already meeting, or exceeding, many of the new targets recently announced by the Government. The local milestones set by the CCG are tougher, meaning a shorter wait for patients.”