Community treatment orders need closer monitoring

There's briefing out yesterday from the Mental Health Alliance about community treatment orders, which is worth reading if you have a moment.

It picks up on some of the concerns that have already been raised about community treatment orders or supervised community treatment for mental health patients, including:-

• Many more CTOs being issued than the government expected.
• They are disproportionately affecting some BME groups.
• A lack of second opinion doctors to authorise the continuation of CTOs after one month. This means that people could be on CTOs illegally.

The briefing also raises concerns that people are being discharged from hospital on CTOs when this is not appropriate, to free up beds.

It recommends closer consultation between hospital and community staff in drawing up care plans for patients under CTOs, as well as closer monitoring of orders by the Care Quality Commission.