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| Mental Health Bill 'has balance' | Mental Health Bill 'has balance' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The government's Mental Health Bill strikes the "right balance" between patient safeguards and protecting the public, the health secretary has said. | The government's Mental Health Bill strikes the "right balance" between patient safeguards and protecting the public, the health secretary has said. |
| Patricia Hewitt told the Commons it was "essential" to ensure discharged patients continued taking medication. | Patricia Hewitt told the Commons it was "essential" to ensure discharged patients continued taking medication. |
| The bill, which will allow people to be held against their will even if they have not committed a crime, has been attacked by the Tories as "punitive". | The bill, which will allow people to be held against their will even if they have not committed a crime, has been attacked by the Tories as "punitive". |
| They and the Lib Dems say the plan would stop sufferers seeking help. | They and the Lib Dems say the plan would stop sufferers seeking help. |
| 'Stigma' | 'Stigma' |
| Ministers want to allow people with severe or violent personality disorders to be confined if they are judged to be a threat to themselves or others. | Ministers want to allow people with severe or violent personality disorders to be confined if they are judged to be a threat to themselves or others. |
| Ms Hewitt told the Commons: "Modern medicine and clinical practice has shifted the whole focus of care into the community and the law needs to follow. | Ms Hewitt told the Commons: "Modern medicine and clinical practice has shifted the whole focus of care into the community and the law needs to follow. |
| So many people have died this last year, and over the last years, because no action has been taken Wendy RobinsonZito Trust | So many people have died this last year, and over the last years, because no action has been taken Wendy RobinsonZito Trust |
| "The bill would enable a patient who is detained in hospital to be released under supervised community treatment, enabling some patients to be discharged into the community earlier than would otherwise have been the case." | "The bill would enable a patient who is detained in hospital to be released under supervised community treatment, enabling some patients to be discharged into the community earlier than would otherwise have been the case." |
| This would be a "real benefit to themselves and often their carers as well", she added. | This would be a "real benefit to themselves and often their carers as well", she added. |
| Ms Hewitt also said: "I believe this bill strikes the right balance ... between modernising the legislation in line with the development of clinical practice, improving patient safeguards and protecting more people from harm." | Ms Hewitt also said: "I believe this bill strikes the right balance ... between modernising the legislation in line with the development of clinical practice, improving patient safeguards and protecting more people from harm." |
| 'False dichotomy' | 'False dichotomy' |
| The government says amendments to the bill passed in the Lords in February should be overturned. | The government says amendments to the bill passed in the Lords in February should be overturned. |
| Peers voted against the idea of compulsion, saying treatment should be given only if it was likely to help the patient. | Peers voted against the idea of compulsion, saying treatment should be given only if it was likely to help the patient. |
| Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said the Tories would support the second reading of the bill but would be arguing about some of the controversial provisions. | Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said the Tories would support the second reading of the bill but would be arguing about some of the controversial provisions. |
| He argued that the government's argument that it was trying to balance the "rights of patients and the protection of the public" was a "false dichotomy". | He argued that the government's argument that it was trying to balance the "rights of patients and the protection of the public" was a "false dichotomy". |
| "They want to force the argument in the direction they want to go," he said, adding: "Compulsion is not the only route to treatment. | "They want to force the argument in the direction they want to go," he said, adding: "Compulsion is not the only route to treatment. |
| "Thousands of patients will access services without compulsion." | "Thousands of patients will access services without compulsion." |
| Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb Mr Lamb said: "We want to see core principles set out on the face of this bill. | |
| "Those facing compulsion should have a right to an independent mental health advocate and they should be made aware of that right." | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY These people need treatment not locking up like a common criminal Darren Spraggs, New Malden Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY These people need treatment not locking up like a common criminal Darren Spraggs, New Malden Send us your comments |
| The government has been trying to overhaul mental health laws since 1998. | The government has been trying to overhaul mental health laws since 1998. |
| It was spurred into action by the conviction of Michael Stone for the murders of Lin and Megan Russell. | It was spurred into action by the conviction of Michael Stone for the murders of Lin and Megan Russell. |
| Stone was regarded as a dangerous psychopath but, because his condition was untreatable, he could not be held under mental health powers. | Stone was regarded as a dangerous psychopath but, because his condition was untreatable, he could not be held under mental health powers. |
| Previous attempts to change the laws have been abandoned over concerns the government is too occupied with public safety, rather than the needs of patients. | Previous attempts to change the laws have been abandoned over concerns the government is too occupied with public safety, rather than the needs of patients. |
| The bill would affect an estimated 14,000 of the 600,000 people who use mental health services each year. | The bill would affect an estimated 14,000 of the 600,000 people who use mental health services each year. |