Responding to the King’s Speech, Saffron Cordery, deputy chief
executive at NHS Providers said:
“Trust leaders will welcome the prioritisation of banning smoking
for future generations and restricting the sale of e-cigarettes.
Smoking remains a significant public health challenge and a big
driver of health inequalities.
“However, we are deeply disappointed that the government is not
bringing forward the mental health bill. This is a missed
opportunity for the government.
“The 40-year-old Mental Health Act desperately needs updating so
that patients can be at the heart of how they access care and
treatment.
“This includes ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place as
well as clearer individual rights and liberties that enable
patients and service users to have a more active role in their
care planning.
“Reforming the Act would also help address severe race
inequalities. Under the current mental health law, people from
minority ethnic backgrounds are up to five times more likely to
be detained than their white counterparts. Urgent action is
needed to tackle this discrimination.
“We are also deeply concerned by the omission of a ban on
conversion therapy. This was a chance for the government to use
the full protection of the law against any risk of widely
discredited, dangerous and discriminatory practices against the
LGBTQ+ community.”
