Winterton lambasts Lords over Mental Health Bill changes

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