Hansard

The debate has been productive and worth while. There has been much agreement and we are extremely pleased that the SNP's amendment has been accepted. Long may the trend continue.

The debate is important in many ways, not least because although mental health is one of the Government's key clinical priorities it is still the poor relation in respect of attention and resources. There is a real stigma associated with mental health—Margaret Jamieson articulated that point extremely well. I support her call for a public education process to tackle that stigma.

Renewing mental health law builds on many of the Millan committee recommendations and will—as has been said often this afternoon—lead to a major improvement in the legislation that underpins how mental health services are delivered in Scotland. We must ensure that adequate resources are provided to back up the principles and intention behind legislation.

The tribunal system has been widely and rightly welcomed as an important change. It will take people away from the sheriff court system, which has stigmatised service users as criminals.

The new right that gives service users and carers a right to request an assessment is an important development. Janis Hughes spoke well of the need for support for carers. I was struck by her comment that the working time directive does not apply to those who care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year—that will stay with me.

Community-based compulsion is a contentious issue. There is continuing concern about the extension of compulsion into the community. Richard Simpson spoke about the reasons for concern. The Millan committee received a range of views on the matter and acknowledged that it would be one of the most controversial elements of the proposals. SAMH is concerned about the new community orders which, if not used appropriately, could reduce the rights of service users. The key is appropriate use. We must explore that issue during the Health and Community Care Committee's evidence-taking sessions.

I am concerned about the impression that has been given of the right to advocacy being watered down to a duty. I hope that the minister will give reassurances that there will be no watering down. Brian Adam outlined the importance of collective advocacy. Patients councils are important. The Executive should consider the Dutch model, in which there is a statutory duty to provide patients councils in every psychiatric hospital. We can learn from that.

Resources are the key to the success or otherwise of the legislative changes. The Millan committee could not consider funding issues, but it highlighted the need for good services. It has already been said that in Scotland, unlike in England, mental health services lost the capital receipts from the sale of psychiatric hospitals. Members know of the difficulties of resource transfer moneys disappearing into the mist and never reappearing to develop the community-based services that are required. We must consider how that happens and try to stop it happening in the future.

SAMH has said that the principle of the least restrictive alternative will not be meaningful in practice unless a full range of services is available, including crisis services and other services based in the community. Many examples have been given of the need for properly resourced services. Kenny Gibson highlighted the need for specialist services for survivors of childhood sexual abuse and expressed concern about the lack of such services. Des McNulty gave the example of a constituent who had experienced a lack of care. I associate myself with the views of John McAllion on the problem in Tayside, where there were cuts in mental health services to the tune of £500,000. Those cuts included the loss of community psychiatric nurses.

One of the few eating disorders services, which is based at the Murray royal hospital, is under threat. It is one of the few day and in-patient services that are operated by the NHS for people with anorexia. We do not need to listen to my views on that issue—David Davidson gave a personal account of how important specialist services are for people with anorexia. I hope that the minister will consider the future of the service at the Murray royal hospital because it is valued by the people who use it and their families.

I look forward to the production of a mental health bill, which will come to the Health and Community Care Committee. A range of evidence will be given. Given that one in four of us is likely to suffer mental health problems at some stage in our lives, the investment of time by the Parliament is absolutely crucial to ensure that mental health receives the recognition and resources that it deserves.