House of Commons - Health Committee: Post-Legislative Scrutiny of the Mental Health Act 2007 - HC 584

Download or read book House of Commons - Health Committee: Post-Legislative Scrutiny of the Mental Health Act 2007 - HC 584 written by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Health Committee and published by The Stationery Office. This book was released on 2013-08-14 with total page 92 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: According to the Health Committee, more needs to be done to protect the interests of patients who rely on mental health services. The Committee has undertaken a review of the 2007 Mental Health Act (ISBN 9780105412076). Many psychiatric wards are over capacity and there is huge pressure on beds, nevertheless, the Committee was shocked to learn that there is evidence that patients who need hospital treatment are being sectioned unnecessarily in order to access a bed. This represents a serious violation of patient's basic rights and it is never acceptable for patients to be subjected to compulsory detention unless it is clinically necessary. The 2007 Act contained important provisions which introduced Community Treatment Orders (CTOs). These orders allow for patients to be treated in the community whilst still being subject to recall to hospital if their condition deteriorates. The Committee is also concerned that pressure on hospital beds may be driving increased use of CTOs. MPs also examined the function of Independent Mental Health Advocates who help patients take advantage of their rights whilst in hospital. The Committee is in no doubt that a patient's primary advocate should be their clinician and independent advocates, ultimately, provide an important, but supplementary, service