Compulsorily Detained Psychiatric Patients

(asked on 22nd January 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Mental Health Act 1983 in protecting the rights of people detained under that Act.


Answered by
Jackie Doyle-Price Portrait
Jackie Doyle-Price
This question was answered on 30th January 2019

It is the role of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to look at how health services in England are applying the Mental Health Act 1983 to make sure that patients’ human rights are being protected. As well as its regular inspections of services, the CQC publishes an annual report, monitoring the Mental Health Act, which summarises its findings on how the Act is being delivered.

The latest report for 2016/17, which includes a chapter on protecting patients’ rights and autonomy, is available at the following link:

https://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/20190108_mhareport2017_amend_1.pdf

The Government commissioned a review of the Mental Health Act as we want to ensure that people with mental health problems receive the treatment and support they need when they need it, are treated with dignity, and that their liberty and autonomy is respected as far as possible.

The independent Review of the Mental Health Act published its final report on 6 December 2018.

The Government has welcomed the report and will consider it and its recommendations in detail before responding in due course. We remain committed to reforming mental health law and will develop and bring forward legislation when Parliamentary time allows.

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