Mental Health Act Commission's Biennial Report; Risks, Rights, Recovery

It is reported that patients deemed to be a threat to themselves or others are being denied hospital beds while commissioners squabble over money. The Mental Health Act Commission has found practitioners are being told to delay sectioning people with urgent mental health needs until primary care trusts ascertain who should pay for their treatment. The problem is being blamed on high bed occupancy levels and the need for PCTs to balance budgets. The Mental Health Act Commission claims that this has encouraged PCTs not to detain patients who have travelled from other areas until the home PCT has agreed to pay. The commission's biennial report Risks, Rights, Recovery criticises the practice as "improper".

(Published 2008, 290 pages)

BMA principles for effective and successful commissioning

The BMA views the commissioning of patient care as a key function of a National Health Service seeking to balance the clinical needs of patients with the finite resources that society is prepared to make available via general taxation. Most importantly, effective commissioning has the potential to improve the range and quality of health services available to patients.

This document outlines a series of principles which the BMA would wish to see upheld as the role of commissioning develops.

(Published, November 2006)