CQC annual report on the use of the Mental Health Act

Posted on by swfhealthsocial

Content originally from Care Quality Commission

Monitoring the Mental Health Act is our annual report on the use of the Mental Health Act (MHA). It looks at how providers are caring for patients, and whether patients’ rights are being protected.

This year’s report finds:

  • The workforce is under extreme pressure
  • Community services are key to reducing levels of detention in hospital
  • Urgent action is needed to address longstanding inequalities in mental health care

Writing in the foreword, Jemima Burnage, our lead for mental health, says:

“This year’s report reflects on the full year under the cloud of the pandemic. This has been, of course, a time of unprecedented stress on services, staff, and on patients managing under restrictions introduced in response to the pandemic, as well as their detention in hospital under the MHA. There has been much tragic loss of life in mental health services, as everywhere else.

“But both this year’s and last year’s reports also describe a story of resilience. In our discussions with patients, carers, advocates and staff during the year, people were appreciative of each other’s efforts.”