According to Simon Wessely, chair of the independent review of the Mental Health Act (MHA), providing “more therapeutic” care for detained mental health patients will be a priority for the review.
Wessley told delegates at the Community Care Live Manchester that care for people with severe mental health problems had “gone downhill” in many areas but said the review would help services “to respect people’s choices and dignity” once again.
Wessley also mentioned that the review would look at reforming the nearest relative rules, under which one of the person’s relatives is given special responsibilities to safeguard the person’s rights – dealing with the interface between the MHA and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and reforming, or possibly abandoning community treatment orders.
The review is expected to be published in the Autumn.
