The 1st
of April 2009 saw a statutory right to advocacy being introduced under the amendments to the 1983 Mental Health
Act.
People detained under a Section 2, 3,
37/41, 47/49 in Hospital or on section 117 leave, SCT, Guardianship or conditionally discharged in the community are classed
as “Qualifying patients”
Informal
patients who are being considered for neurosurgery for mental disorder or implanting of hormones to reduce male sex drive
are also classed as qualifying patients as are patients under 18 who are being considered for electro-convulsive therapy (ECT)
or medication relating to ECT.
Advocates
who will receive further specialised training will be called
Independent
Mental Health Advocates
(IMHA)
Informal patients in hospital
and in the community
Users Support
Service will continue to also provide advocacy for any patients who request it.
Supporting people
People living in Supporting People housing will
see no change to their service.
To re-assure our current service users - The same team of advocates
as at present will continue to offer advocacy as described above. We have supplemented our team of advocates to cope with
the extra work that will come our way from this new service.
