Clause 6
Mental Health Bill [Lords]
11:45 am
Rosie Winterton (Minister of State (Health Services), Department of Health; Doncaster Central, Labour)
The Government oppose clause 6 standing part of the Bill. Our policy is to introduce “responsible clinicians”, to bring the legislation in line with current practice. We want to remove the rigid demarcation of professional roles in favour of an approach that ensures that clinicians with the right skills, expertise and training can use them. If we can achieve that, frankly, we can reflect modern NHS practices, which have moved more toward a competency-based approach to roles and responsibilities.
It is important to look at how the work force has changed since 1983. Things were different in 1983 to today. In 1983, the emphasis was on in-patient care and medication in large mental hospitals. There was a greater focus on the medical model of treatment, which meant that doctors made most of the decisions. Since then, there has been a widely welcomed shift to psycho-social interventions and more treatment in the community. Hon. Members on both sides of the Committee have so far celebrated the fact that those kinds of changes have taken place, and they have recognised in their contributions the fact that patients have a wide range of needs that require the specialist skills of the range of professionals on the multi-disciplinary teams. As a result of the multi-disciplinary approach, the professions, whether psychologists, nurses, occupational therapists or social workers, have developed interventions. Those professionals are taking on more functions and adopting leadership roles. As I said, up until now, all hon. Members have celebrated that.