I am very grateful to the Minister for that positive intervention, and we look forward to seeing that guidance when it is brought forward.
On clause 5, I am also supportive of the focus on involving
“patients in the planning, development and delivery of care and treatment”.
I would have preferred to see that extended to the patient’s family, as was proposed by my hon. Friend the Member for Christchurch, because, as we know, mental illness does not affect just the patient; it can affect those near and dear to them, too. Again, the Minister stated on Report that she would seek to put this into statutory guidance and I hope she intends to follow through with that, because many family members would think it is very important.