§ 58. Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what statistics his Department collects about the use of electro-convulsive therapy and medication in psychiatric hospitals administered without the consent of the patient concerned; and what plans he has to strengthen consent procedures in his forthcoming review of the Mental Health Act 1959.
§ Mr. MoyleStatistics of ECT treatments and medication in psychiatric hospitals are not kept centrally. However, we are giving further consideration to the case for national ECT statistics in the light of the recent memorandum on ECT published by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Consent to treatment is one of the issues being considered by the Inter-Departmental Committee reviewing the Mental Health Act, and we expect to put forward proposals on this in the forthcoming White Paper.