PRT briefing on the Mental Health Bill

PRT prepared a briefing to assist peers in the scrutiny of the Mental Health Bill for the second reading in the House of Lords on Monday 25 November.

The bill includes welcome provisions to:

• Introduce a 28-day transfer period for acutely mentally ill patients held in prison to be transferred to hospital.
• Remove police stations and prisons as a place of safety.
• Remove remand for a persons own protection etc.

However, we are concerned that adequate investment must be made available, including for a professional workforce, to deliver these new legislative requirements.

Lord Bradley and other peers welcomed these provisions and highlighted the importance of getting their implementation right during the second reading. You can find a full transcript here.