Basic rights of mentally ill ‘violated’
The basic rights of some mental health patients in England are being “violated” because of a shortage of beds in psychiatric units, MPs say.
The Health Select Committee said there was evidence some people are being sectioned unnecessarily to secure hospital treatment.
It also warned safeguards to protect patients who lack capacity are often ignored.
The charity Rethink said the findings were “shocking”.
Changes to mental health laws in 2007 were supposed to ease pressure on psychiatric units by extending the treatment available out of hospital.
Legislation provided for Community Treatment Orders so some people previously detained in hospital could be treated – under supervision – in the community.
But compulsory detention has continued to increase.