Our response to the CQC’s Mental Health Act Annual Report 2014/2015

Response - 14 December 2015

The CQC have released a new report looking at the 1,292 visits they carried out between April 2014 and March 2015 to check how people detained under the Act are treated.

The CQC’s Mental Health Act Annual Report 2014/2015, found that over half of all mental health inpatients were subject to the Mental Health Act 1983 and expressed concerns over patient involvement in their treatment.

In response to the report, our Chief Executive, Katherine Rake, said:

"Detentions under the mental health act should only be used when absolutely necessary and, when used, patients should be involved in their care and supported to exercise their rights.

“Worryingly, the CQC’s report suggests that this is not always the case.

“This echoes the findings from “Safely Home”, our inquiry into unsafe discharge. We found that some patients are being detained inappropriately in mental health settings because of a lack of alternative options or appropriate community support, which can have devastating knock-on effect on their ongoing wellbeing.

"We want to see adequate community and ongoing support of people with mental health conditions which ensures their treatment and care is appropriate for their individual needs. This could avoid unnecessary detention and further distress for thousands."

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