A better deal for mental health

The Mental Health Act Commission (MHAC) is being abolished, and the Government has introduced a bill to form a new commission. Rethink are campaigning to ensure that mental health remains a priority!

Background to the Bill

The Government's Health and Social Care Bill was introduced to Parliament in November 2007. It exists to abolish three existing bodies, and bring their work together. These bodies are:

  •  The Mental Health Act Commission (MHAC)
  • The Health Care Commission (HCC)
  • The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI)

The bill will form a new body, called the Care Quality Commission, or CQC. We tabled amendments to the Bill at its first stage in the House of Commons. The Bill is now at the House of Lords, and we will be pushing for changes at this stage too!

What changes do we want?

We want to make sure that:

  •  The new commission has a 'Mental Health Sub-Committee' - this will make sure mental health issues remain a priority at the new commission
  • Reducing Health Inequalities is part of the new Commission's remit - we know that people with mental illness are more likely to experience physical health problems. The CQC needs to address this

We have tabled amendments in the Lords, so that these considerations can become law.

You can read our briefing for Peers below. This gives full detail of the wording of the amendments, and the reasoning behind them.

Further information