POLICY: Scottish Government’s consulation on Scottish Mental Health Law (Scott) Review

A recap highlighting our three broad areas for reform: legislative clarification; an enhanced role for nurses, modernisation of Scotland’s approach to mental health.

We agree that ‘the purpose of the law should be to ensure that all the human rights of people with mental disorder are respected, protected and fulfilled’ and that it should ‘seek to ensure that the wider needs of people with mental disorder are met’ and with the four attendant principles. We caution that the various rights of staff must also be accounted for; that they require support; and we emphasise the need for safe staffing (including implementation of the Health and Care (staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019) and the proper resourcing of services.