Wales needs its own Mental Health Bill - Jenny Randerson

4.43.59pm GMT Wed 28th Feb 2007

Following today's Assembly debate on the Mental Health Bill which is currently passing through Parliament, Jenny Randerson AM Welsh Liberal Democrat Health spokesperson said: "The new UK Mental Health Bill will do nothing to modernise mental health legislation. It will introduce a broad range of new powers, yet do little to make the public safer. This is the UK government's third attempt to reform this bill, in the face of massive opposition.

"I am genuinely concerned that compulsory community treatment would be over-used and deter patients from seeking treatment they need. I want the Health Minister Brian Gibbons to seek powers for a Welsh mental health bill.

"The Bill proposed by Westminster would introduce wide powers of compulsion while failing to give people in Wales the same rights and safeguards that are in place in Scotland.

"I am going to campaign for Wales to steer its own course on Mental Health. Unless the Bill is significantly amended it will not meet Welsh mental health needs.

"The Labour Assembly Government should be pressing the UK Government to devolve the powers on Mental Health Legislation to the Assembly. Labour have lost the argument every time on this important piece of legislation. Wales needs its own Mental Health Bill"

Notes:

The Bill if it became law, permit the enforced detention of people suffering from "untreatable" personality disorders, even if they have not committed any crime.

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