Patients will benefit from new mental health ambulances and improvements to crisis care under the Mental Health Bill, the Government has announced.
According to the Government, people experiencing a mental health emergency will be able to access more care in the community, such as through crisis houses and safe havens, and those detained under the Mental Health Act will benefit from landmark reforms which provide patients with more control over their care and treatment.
‘The Bill contains a number of welcome proposals. We’re particularly pleased to see measures which will give people receiving care under the Act more say over how they are treated and allow a nominated person to exercise certain rights on their behalf,’ said Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind.
‘Making sure people with mental health problems have more access to advocacy is particularly important.’
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New funding includes £7 million for specialised mental health ambulances across the country to reduce the use of general ambulance call-outs for those experiencing a mental health crisis and prevent the inappropriate use of police vehicles as a way to take people to hospital.
‘We’re investing more money to ensure NHS patients have tailored services and support, so people in a mental health emergency get the right care at the right time,’ said Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid.
‘Our reforms to the outdated Mental Health Act are another important milestone in better supporting those with serious mental health issues and giving people greater control over their treatment, particularly those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are disproportionately detained under the act.’