New Clause 18
Mental Health Bill [Lords]
6:15 pm
Rosie Winterton (Minister of State (Health Services), Department of Health; Doncaster Central, Labour)
I was extremely grateful to my hon. Friend for giving such a vivid account of some of the problems that approved social workers face in the field, which she clearly experienced during her day on the front line. She explained clearly the issues that underlie the new clauses and responded to the problems that some approved social workers have experienced in getting ambulance, police and trust bed managers to co-operate in conveying and admitting patients to hospital. I sympathise with her concerns and thank her for bringing them to the attention of the Committee.
It is essential that local services are co-ordinated to ensure that patients are conveyed safely, efficiently and in the least distressing way for them and their family. That goes back to the discussions that we had this morning about places of safety. However, I have to tell my hon. Friend that we may not be able to solve such difficulties in primary legislation. She was right when she said that the arrangements for co-ordinating local services must be a matter for local decision. As a result of our meeting, I have had discussions with officials about what else we can do in that regard. We are considering issuing a circular to relevant bodies, such as local authorities, trusts and police authorities, stressing that it is their responsibility to ensure that local protocols are working. We are also considering how to amend the Mental Health Act codes of practice to make that responsibility clear.
As a result of my hon. Friend’s suggestion, I have asked for the ASW leads network to be represented on the steering group of an existing Government project that is co-ordinating health trusts, local authorities and emergency services, including police and ambulance services, to develop guidance on working together to manage people experiencing mental disorder. That guidance will cover the safe and efficient conveyance of patients to hospital.
Something else that I recall from the meeting and should like to consider further is the issue that my hon. Friend has just touched on, which is the extent to which we can encourage regulators and inspectors to examine local protocols and see whether they are working effectively. I wish to do some further work on that, although I cannot guarantee anything because regulators have a certain independence. It is certainly something that I can take away and look at.
As I have said, the issue is very important and we want to get it right. I hope that the way forward that I have suggested will be acceptable to my hon. Friend and that she will withdraw the motion.