— Key recommendations: "(1) Creation of a new statutory Mental Health Commissioner post. (2) The Principles underpinning the 2018 Review and respect for racial equality should be included in the Bill. (3) Health organisations should appoint a responsible person to collect and monitor data on detentions under the MHA, broken down by ethnicity, with annual figures published by Government, and to implement policies to reduce inequalities. (4) Community Treatment Orders are used disproportionately for black and ethnic minority patients and should be abolished for the majority of patients, except those involved in criminal proceedings or under sentence where their continued use should be reviewed. (4) Strengthened duties for Integrated Care Boards and Local Authorities to ensure adequate supply of community services for people with learning disabilities and autistic people to avoid long-term detention. (5) Patients detained or previously detained under the MHA should have a statutory right to request an advance choice document is drawn up"
Full details available at: https://www.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/Joint_Committee_on_the_Draft_Mental_Health_Bill,_%27Draft_Mental_Health_Bill_2022:_Report_of_Session_2022-23%27_(HC_696,_HL_Paper_128,_11/1/23)?id=021024-1303