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Health minister Rosie Winterton has denied that it is the government’s intention to imply that people with learning difficulties would be brought under the draft Mental Health Act, writes Sally Gillen.

Giving evidence to a committee of peers and MPs this week, Winterton also denied that community treatment orders would lead to people being placed under house arrest.

Safeguards, including a tribunal system that reviews care after 28 days, would prevent CTOs being misused, she insisted.

It is estimated that between 200 and 300 so-called revolving doors patients could be subject to CTOs.

Winterton said: “Community treatment orders are an important aspect to the bill. Service provision has changed. We have crisis resolution teams and outreach teams. It can aid people’s recovery if they are not in hospital.”