New Clause 22
Mental Health Bill [Lords]
6:30 pm
Rosie Winterton (Minister of State (Health Services), Department of Health; Doncaster Central, Labour)
The hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East is very tempting—[Laughter.] He is particularly so as the virgin mover of a new clause. However, I am afraid that I might have to disappoint him, although I want to say straight away that I certainly understand his reasons for tabling the new clause. It would require the appropriate authority—I presume that the hon. Gentleman means the hospital managers—to establish a formal procedure to advise patients and their nearest relatives that a transfer to another hospital can be requested if there is good reason.
The new clause is similar to an amendment tabled in the other place, and it raises important issues of good practice. As the hon. Gentleman and the hon. Member for Broxbourne pointed out, it reflects one of the recommendations of the David Bennett inquiry. I accept the principle behind the recommendations, but I must again refer the Committee to the fact that it would be better to put them into the code of practice.