Our second Mental Health Act annual report 2010/11

We have published our second annual report on the use of the Mental Health Act (MHA). The report, which covers the year up to March 2011, puts a strong emphasis on a renewed call for better care for patients whose rights have been restricted under the MHA.

Since our formation in April 2009 we have been responsible for monitoring the use of the MHA in relation to those patients detained in hospital or receiving supervised community treatment. We publish a report every year using the findings of our MHA Commissioners, who visit wards and meet with patients to ensure that the legal powers are being used correctly.

This year’s report highlights:

• Lack of  patient involvement in the care planning process
• Patients' capacity to consent was, in some cases, assumed too readily by doctors
• Community Treatment Orders (CTOs) and the legal powers available to providers are widely misunderstood, even among mental health professionals
• Examples of unnecessary restrictions placed on patients such as denying access to the internet or their rooms and listening to their phone calls.

The report, along with summaries of key findings, is available now on our website.