Written question asked by Lynne Jones (Labour) on Thursday, 25 March 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 29 March 2010. It was answered by Phil Hope (Labour) on Tuesday, 6 April 2010 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Mental Health Services: Advocacy

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2010, Official Report, columns 125-6W, on mental health services: advocacy, how frequently information on the availability and accessibility of independent mental health advocates in hospitals which detain patients under the Mental Health Act 1983 will be collected and published; and in which quarter he expects the annual report of the Care Quality Commission to be laid before Parliament.

Answer: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the new integrated regulator for health and adult social care from 1 April 2009. They have told us that:"the implementation of independent mental health advocacy is of particular interest to them;""the availability and accessibility of advocacy will be a standard question asked on all of their regular visits to hospitals from 1 April 2010;""the results will be reflected in annual statements on every hospital (in the independent sector) or trust (in the national health service) that they visit and that these statements will be published on the CQC website towards the end of each calendar year; and""a CQC report containing initial findings on the implementation of independent mental health advocacy in 2009-10 is planned for publication in October 2010."

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 508 c1327W; 325172
Session: 2009-10
Related items: Mental Health Services: Advocacy
Monday, 22 March 2010
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Advocacy Mental health services
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk