§ Miss Fookesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to introduce long-term secure accommodation for persons not suffering from mental illness as defined by law but who nonetheless require a secure and sheltered environment for their own safety and that of others.
277W
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke[pursuant to his reply, 26 February 1985, c. 137]: The 1983 Mental Health Act specifies the circumstances in which a person may, on account of mental disorder, be compulsorily detained—where that is necessary for the health or safety of the person concerned or for the protection of other persons. A person not liable to detention under the provisions of the Mental Health Act may be admitted on an informal basis to a National Health Service hospital, whether or not the doctor concerned regards the patient's problems as constituting mental illness, if in his clinical judgment such an admission may be beneficial. Such treatment may involve some element of security, but the person concerned would be free to leave the hospital at any time. A number of NHS hospitals do have a "special care" ward providing structured environment and high level of supervision without relying on detention. Certain voluntary bodies cater for people with behavioural problems who are not mentally ill and are better cared for outside hospital. Parliament has not provided for the compulsory detention in hospital of someone who is not detainable under the Mental Health Act. Such a person cannot be detained except as a result of a judgment by a court.
We are reviewing the needs of, and provision and plans for "hard to place" clients, including those who are mentally handicapped.