§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what patient advocacy services are available to(a) disabled and (b) ethnic minority mental health patients. [86147]
§ Jacqui SmithA number of nationally and locally based advocacy services are available to help disabled and ethnic minority mental health patients. A range of agencies, including the voluntary sector provides these services. The Department is also providing three year funding for the United Kingdom Advocacy Network (UKAN) to develop standards in independent advocacy whereby they are establishing programmes of regional training courses for advocates. UKAN also employs a worker to work specifically on advocacy issues affecting black and minority ethnic groups.
The majority of national health service trusts and primary care trusts now have a patient advice and liaison service to advise patients, their carers and families about how to access appropriate advocacy services.