Health (Exemption of Charges for Involuntary Psychiatric Patients) (Amendment) Bill 2019

Public bill · Private Member · Introduced

The measure would stop people who are detained against their will for psychiatric treatment from being charged in-patient fees in public hospitals. In plain terms, it would add these patients to the list of people who do not have to pay acute in-patient charges. It matters because it would remove a financial burden from some of the most vulnerable patients and treat compulsory mental health care differently from ordinary hospital care. The page showing the text of the proposal makes clear that it is a narrow change focused only on fees, not on wider mental health law.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to amend the Health Act 1970 to exclude involuntarily detained psychiatric patients from any in-patient fees.

Last updated 20 April 2020