Responding to the Bill being introduced, RCN Chief Nursing Officer Lynn Woolsey, said:
“Modernising the Mental Health Act is welcome, but these long overdue reforms won’t be successful unless we address the crisis in the workforce. A third of all nursing vacancies are in mental health services, meaning vulnerable people are routinely denied access to timely and appropriate care. As these new plans develop, it is crucial that the nursing profession is able to shape them in the interests of patients.
“The disproportionate use of detention for young black men remains a significant concern for our members. Ending the use of police and prison cells for people experiencing a mental health crisis couldn’t be more urgent, as is delivering appropriate community support for those with learning disabilities and autistic people.”
