Rethink - Mental Health Bill concessions fail to meet concerns

Wednesday, 13, Jul 2005 12:00

Mental Health Bill concessions fail to meet concerns says Rethink

Rethink severe mental illness today (July 13) criticises the government's response to the Joint Scrutiny Committee report on the draft Mental Health Bill.

Rethink chief executive Cliff Prior said: "Rethink is deeply worried that the Bill still fails to help people with mental illness get help quickly - and fails their families even more - despite some welcome changes to improve rights and safeguards."

In March, the Scrutiny Committee listened to the concerns of service users, carers, professionals and charities and described government's proposals as 'fundamentally flawed' warning that the powers in the draft Bill would lead to too many people being treated against their will.

Mr Prior added: "An expert Committee was set up to look at the workability of the Bill and the government should have taken on board all of its recommendations. The government made significant concessions on patient rights in its call for a new Mental Health Act today, but failed to address widespread concerns that its plans will lead in practice to an increased use of compulsion in the community.

"Depriving someone of his or her liberties is a serious step to take and should be only taken if there is a guarantee of good quality care for an individual. The draft Bill does not guarantee this. The Bill still leaves too much to regulation and to local practice which can be good, but too often is bad."