• Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published their annual ‘Monitoring the Mental Health Act 2017/18’ report to Parliament.
• Throughout 2017/18, CQC carried out visits to mental health wards to meet patients, review their care and speak to staff on the frontline to inform its report.
• CQC found that there has been an overall improvement in some aspects of care in 2016 to 2018, compared with findings in 2014 to 2016, including in the quality of care planning and patient involvement.
• The provision of information about legal rights to patients and relatives is still the most frequently raised issue from visits.
• The greatest concern from Mental Health Act monitoring visits is about the quality and safety of mental health wards; in particular acute wards for adults of working age.
  
  

Responding to Monitoring the Mental Health Act in 2017/18 by Care Quality Commission, the deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery said:

“We are pleased to see that Care Quality Commission has noted the improvements in care for mental health patients made over the last year.

“There is further to go, but it is a credit to the efforts and dedication of trusts and front line staff who have worked incredibly hard against rising demand, financial pressures and staffing challenges to provide a good level of care for patients at their most vulnerable.

Mental health services must receive an appropriate share of capital funding to invest in the specialised facilities they need. We also need urgent action to address a severe shortage of mental health staff.

Saffron Cordery    Deputy Chief Executive

“It is vital that investment earmarked for the sector reaches the frontline if we are to meet growing need and improve quality. Mental health services must receive an appropriate share of capital funding to invest in the specialised facilities they need. We also need urgent action to address a severe shortage of mental health staff.

“We were pleased to contribute to and welcome the recommendations put forward by Professor Sir Simon Wessely’s independent review of the Mental Health Act. These changes will strengthen the voice of patients and improve variation in care across services. We look forward to seeing progress.”