Mental Health Online is a free portal website providing an internet resource on mental health law, and mental capacity law, for England & Wales. The site provides links to case law, legislation and general information on mental health; as well as producing an Annual Review which contains all news items, arranged thematically, which were added to the website during that year
The report of the Kerr/Haslam Inquiry, which was concerned with how NHS services in Yorkshire dealt with concerns raised about two consultant psychiatrists, Dr William Kerr and Mr Michael Haslam, who were involved in the sexual abuse of psychiatric patients. The Inquiry’s report was published in July 2005 and is available here on the Gov.UK website, the website for the UK government.
The Care Quality Commission is the independent regulator of all health and adult social care services in England. Its website provides information about what people can expect from health and social care providers, as well as results of reports and inspections. These can be searched by name, location or postcode, and are available to download in PDF format. The site also provides additional links to relevant health and social care organisations and information services.
The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland is responsible for safeguarding the rights and welfare of everyone with a mental illness in Scotland. The site gives information on the work of the Commission and guidance on mental health law in Scotland. It also provides good practice guides, annual reports, information for users and inquiry reports.
Website of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland (MHTS), the forum for making decisions relating to the compulsory care and treatment of people under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. The site gives background information about the Tribunal, including related legislation; it also provides downloadable forms and the full text of appeals against decisions of the MHTS.
The Office of the Public Guardian in Scotland is part of the Scottish Court Service; it was set up under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000. Its role is to supervise those who have been appointed to manage the financial or property affairs of adults who lack the capacity to do so for themselves. The site gives guidance on powers of attorney, access to funds, intervention orders and guardianship orders. There are forms to download and a link to the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000.
Part two of a policy paper ("white paper") published by the UK Government in December 2000. Gives details of special arrangements for the small minority who pose a threat to others. Arrangements for assessment, for compulsory treatment, and the role of the new Mental Health Tribunals are described. The first part, "The new legal framework" [q.v.] deals with the proposed restructuring of the law for all mental health patients.
This document was published by the United Kingdom Secretary of State for Health and the Home Secretary in December 2000, and is also known as "The Mental Health White Paper". Part 1 was published as Command Paper 5016-i (Cm.5016-i), and deals with the proposed restructuring of the law for all mental health patients; the second part, "High risk patients" [q.v.] details special arrangements for the small minority who pose a threat to others. Access to full-text is available as a web page.
The Legal Action Group (LAG) is a legal education charity providing support to lawyers and campaigning for improvements in the law and the administration of justice. Its website gives details of LAG publications, courses and campaigns. Contents and editorials from the Group's magazine, 'Legal Action', are also available, along with indexes back to 2000. The site provides guides to a range of legal topics and links to external resources. Subjects covered include community care, crime, employment, human rights, legal aid and welfare benefits.
The First-tier Tribunal (Mental Health) hears applications from people detained as patients in psychiatric hospitals who want to be discharged. The site has guidance on appealing to the tribunal and what happens at hearings. Links to relevant legislation are also given.
