Greenchurch welcomes the government white paper published today which aims to make our mental health legislation fit for purpose in the 21st Century.
Our director, Sheree Green, says:
“This is long overdue – but very welcome. It is over 2 years since the publication of the independent review chaired by Professor Sir Simon Wessely ‘Modernising the Mental Health Act: Increasing choice, reducing compulsion’.
The white paper makes it clear that the government has taken on board many of the recommendations made. It will be good to work towards patients have greater control over their treatment and experience of mental health services. Measures will be introduced to address the shocking statistic that a black person is four times more likely to be detained than a white person.
As solicitors who work alongside people with learning disabilities and autism, it is also great news to see the proposal that a diagnosis of a learning disability and autism may one day no longer be accepted as the sole basis for detaining a person in hospital”.
Fuether information can be found here
