Mental Health Day should be focus for improving services in Wales - Randerson.

11.50.32am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 10th Oct 2007

Speaking on World Mental Health Day, Jenny Randerson, the Liberal Democrats Spokesperson on Health in the National Assembly called for more support for the "Cinderella service" of the NHS in Wales.

Jenny Randerson AM said: "Mental Health Day gives us all the opportunity to focus the mind of the public on mental health and mental health services in Wales. Wales needs high quality local mental health services available to everyone. I think that in Wales, we can do better than the draconian Mental Health Act recently passed in Westminster.

"We now have the opportunity to gain the powers to decide on Welsh mental health legislation here in the Assembly via a private members Legislative Competency Order.

"It is regrettable however that time and opportunity has been wasted because the previous minister refused to ask for framework powers over this subject when the legislation was going through parliament.

"I hope that today provides an opportunity for everyone in Wales to reflect on mental health issues and that the Assembly can now move forward in improving mental health services and allowing people to face their difficulties with all the support that they can be given.

Notes:

World Mental Health day has been marked every year on October 10th since 1992. It is held to raise awareness of the issues surrounding mental health and its treatment.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have long campaigned for framework powers for the Assembly to make decisions for Welsh mental health services.