Mental health capacity Bill
Dessie Ellis describes patients being denied mental-health admission because of bed shortages and asks when the promised capacity legislation will arrive; the Minister says one Bill is going to committee and a second is expected in about a month.
The Government has promised legislation to deal with the admission of patients with mental health issues. We have a huge crisis in hospitals where clients in need of admission are being turned away at accident and emergency services owing to the lack of beds. I have first-hand experience and knowledge of people who are a danger to themselves and others being turned away, purely because there are no beds available in hospitals across the city.
Comment on this
I refer to the mental health capacity Bill which has been promised. When will it be delivered? It is clear that many people are dying or self-harming who are being let out of hospital. It is an absolute scandal.
Comment on this
The first Bill is on its way to the committee. It has been before the House for some time now. A second Bill is promised and we should see it in about one month.