Peers in the House of Lords passed an amendment to the Community Care (Delayed Discharge) Bill excluding mental health patients from the controversial fining system, writes Katie Leason.
The peers also approved a second amendment saying that a patient or their carer must be consulted, and their informed consent obtained, before they can be passed over into the care of social services.
Conservative peer Earl Howe said that the discharge from hospital of people with mental health problems required "considerable care", and that making a judgement on whether or not a person was likely to harm themselves or others "cannot be made in a hurry".
He warned that there might also be a temptation to use medication to manage symptoms to enable a quicker discharge.
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