Health minister Rosie Winterton savaged peers today over their
amendments to the Mental Health Bill, claiming they had "seriously
weakened" plans to protect patients and the public.
Winterton told a Local Government Association conference the
House of Lords had "altered the entire balance of the bill" and
pledged to overturn their amendments.
Peers changed the bill as it passed through the
Lords to ensure people detained were likely to benefit from
their treatment, place greater restrictions on compulsory
community treatment and introduce measures to prevent people
being detained unless their judgment was impaired.
The bill will have its third reading the House of Lords next
week before crossing to the Commons, probably after Easter.
More information:
Mental health
Lords amend Mental Health Bill
