Giving NHS staff detention powers 'puts people at risk'

EXTENDING police powers for detaining mental health patients to NHS staff could cause “significant harm with dangerous consequences”, leading organisations have warned.

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The Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, the Royal College of Nursing and Association of Directors of Adult Social Services are among those saying proposed changes to the Mental Health Bill will set a “dangerous precedent” that puts people at risk.

In March, the Government suffered several defeats in the Lords as peers debated ways to modernise mental health legislation.

Conservative shadow health minister Lord Kamall proposed a change to the Mental Health Bill so that nurses, doctors and other staff could carry out detentions of patients without the need for police officers to attend incidents.