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Workload implications of the proposed new Mental Health Act — an audit

West London Mental Health NHS Trust, Gloucester House, 194 Hammersmith Road, London W6 8BS

Clive Meux, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist

The Oxford Clinic, Littlemore Mental Health Centre, Oxford OX4 4XN

Declaration of interest

None.

AIMS AND METHOD

To estimate specific time and resource implications for professionals, if proposed changes to the Mental Health Act 1983 (England & Wales) in the Government's white paper were to be implemented unchanged. An audit of time spent on current procedures was extrapolated.

RESULTS

The amount of time required to comply with the Act will rise substantially (by 27% overall). Social workers and independent doctors will spend 30% and 207% more time respectively, complying with the Act, but psychiatrists providing clinical care to forensic patients should be largely unaffected.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

If the Government presses ahead with its plans for mental health law reform as currently proposed, extra resources will be required to provide additional social work and independent medical time — or other services for patients will suffer.

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