Priory welcomes government’s drive and focus on reforming Mental Health Act
Date: 22nd July 2024
Priory chief executive Rebekah Cresswell has welcomed the government’s drive to reform the Mental Health Act following its inclusion in the King’s Speech last week (17 July).
She said: “Last week saw a major milestone achieved with the inclusion of reform of the Mental Health Act in the King’s Speech and a commitment that ministers will legislate to modernise it so it is fit for the 21st century.
“The overwhelmingly positive response from mental health charities and organisations representing the interests of patients demonstrates just how critical it is and we fully support and welcome the government’s drive and focus on delivering the changes needed.
“Decisive action, which will improve the lives of people with mental health conditions and ensure those who have been unfairly treated by the constraints of the current Act are given greater protection, will be transformative.
“As an organisation providing mental healthcare across the UK, we are deeply committed to providing high quality, tailored care to all and much of the work we have been doing in recent years, particularly around learning disabilities and autism, as well as patient autonomy and support, has been ahead of the curve.
“We agree wholeheartedly that a typical hospital ward is rarely the right therapeutic environment for people with learning disabilities and autism, which is why we have focused on establishing placements that suit individual needs.
“We have developed integrated pathways between our health and social care services to ensure that when someone with autism or a learning disability is admitted to one of our hospitals, we are planning for their transition to a more appropriate environment, preferably in the community, as soon as possible.
“This has seen us introduce pioneering assessment and transition directors for complex autism whose role it is to support these transitions and work with individuals and families throughout the process as there can be many barriers.
“This work is fundamentally transforming the transition experience for these individuals, so it is pleasing to see the proposed Mental Health Bill place the needs of these people among its core priorities.
“At Priory our purpose – ‘Live your life’ – is about helping people through their journey towards reaching their potential and supporting those under our care to live as fully and independently as they can, whatever their needs.
“We do this by creating environments which support wellbeing and rehabilitation and developing care plans that are tailored to the individual and the Mental Health Act should undoubtedly be focused on delivering compassionate, dignified and personalised care that is less restrictive and much more supportive for those in need.”
ENDS
Contact: [email protected]
About Priory and MEDIAN Group
Priory is the UK’s largest independent provider of mental health and adult social care services. Priory treats more than 70 conditions, including depression, anxiety, addictions and eating disorders, as well as children’s mental health, across its nationwide network of sites. Priory also supports autistic adults and adults with a learning disability, Prader-Willi Syndrome and brain injuries, as well as older people, within specialist residential care and supported living facilities – helping as many people as possible to live their lives.
Priory is part of the MEDIAN Group, the leading European provider of high-quality mental health and rehabilitation services. The MEDIAN Group comprises: Priory in the UK with 290 facilities and 5,000 beds caring for 28,000 people, MEDIAN in Germany with 120 facilities and 20,000 beds caring for around 250,000 patients, and Hestia in Spain with 15 facilities and 2,100 beds caring for 11,000 people in Spain, with more than 29,000 employees across the group.