Today, Sajid Javid promised that he would stop the unfair treatment of hundreds of people with learning disabilities and autism from being incarcerated in mental hospitals.
Health Secretary Announced the Government’s “once-in-a-lifetime” reforms to the Mental Health Bill.
The’momentous plans’ will not make it easier for individuals with learning disabilities or autism to be placed in an institution under the law, he said.
The Mental Health Act has been updated to allow people who have certain conditions not to be held indefinitely.
Now, however, sectioning is only possible if the individual has separate mental illness.
Jeremy Hunt who was Mr Javid’s former role said that the plan doesn’t do enough to assist up to 2,000 individuals with learning disabilities and autism currently held in secure institutions.
The new legislation — which updates a 1983 bill — will also make it harder for anyone to be unfairly detained.
The new system will allow mental health patients to have’more control over the care and treatment they receive’.
Today’s announcement comes after Mr Javid opened up about his eldest brother’s suicide four years ago, saying he still struggles with survivor’s guilt.
Sajid Javid, the Minister of Mental Health Care Reforms announced today the Government’s “once-in-a-lifetime” reforms in this afternoon’s draft Mental Health Bill
Tariq Javid (51 years) committed suicide in Horsham in Sussex in July 2018, shortly after he checked-in at a 5-star country hotel.
While visiting Papyrus in London on Friday, he described the struggle of his family to accept their loss.
Javid stated today that the House of Commons will be receiving a new bill.
“It is a problem that too many people with learning disabilities and autistic people are being admitted to institutions when they can be served better in their community. The Bill is going to change this.
“It prevents people with learning disabilities from being detained for treatment.
He said that Government could not make critical reforms, like a new 10-year plan for mental health and a plan to prevent suicide, without ensuring that law which underpins the nation’s mental healthcare system is also up-to date.
Javid stated that since the 1983 Act, mental health awareness and attitudes have changed beyond recognition. It’s important that this information is kept current.
“The Mental Health Act” was established to ensure that those with severe mental illness and who present a danger to others or themselves can be held safely and treated.
“But, there are alarming problems with how the act is used currently: Too many people are being held.
They are held too long. There are inequalities between those who are held.
He added: ‘The Bill rebalances the criteria for detention, so it only takes place as a last resort when all other options have been explored and considered.
“Under new criteria people won’t be held if there is a risk to their safety or that of others. Patients should not be kept unless they can benefit from treatment.
Javid claimed that the Bill would give patients more control over their treatment and care by ensuring that doctors can only prescribe compulsory treatment in cases where there are strong reasons to.
Following the statement, Mr Hunt (chair of the Health and Social Care Committee) said that he agreed with Mr Javid’s assertion ‘wholeheartedly.
He said that the proposed reforms by the Health Secretary to people with autism don’t go far enough.
He stated that ‘we still have 2,000 people with learning disabilities and autism who are locked up in institutions. They would do well in the community.
It is a human right scandal.
Hunt demanded that No10 change the rules to require doctors to apply to section people every other week. This’so that there’s pressure on the system for a better solution.
Tory MP Huw Merriman, who chairs the all-party parliamentary group on autism, added 61 per cent of all people in mental health institutions have autism.
According to him, around 1200 of them are in this condition.
Javid added that they were determined to lower the number people with learning disabilities or autism in mental health facilities.
“As part these plans, we will soon be publishing the cross Government Building the Right Support Plan in order to propel this progress. So we’ll have more details to share about it soon.
According to Mr Javid, he was happy to have a meeting with Mr Hunt in order to talk about his suggestion for sectioning.