Clause 1
Mental Health Bill [Lords]
11:00 am
Rosie Winterton (Minister of State (Health Services), Department of Health; Doncaster Central, Labour)
Perhaps it would be helpful if I gave some background to the clause and explained why we have taken the decision to abolish the four separate categories of mental disorder, which are used in parts of the Mental Health Act 1983 as it stands.
What we have tried to do with the clause is to simplify the definition, so that we have a single definition of mental disorder throughout the Bill. The clause also simplifies, although it does not change the effect of, that basic definition to
“any disorder or disability of the mind”.
The reason why we wanted to remove the four categories is that they serve no useful purpose at the moment. They do not help with people getting the treatment that they need, when using the Act is the only option left, and they do not protect patients against inappropriate use of the Act. They are legal and not clinical terms. They do not relate directly to clinical diagnoses.