Patients who will be subjected to new compulsory powers under the Mental Health Act from today (3 November) face being denied access to critical support and protection, says mental health charity Mind. Under the new laws, patients detained or subject to a community treatment order should be legally entitled to an independent mental health advocate, but the Government has delayed the roll out of the posts for six months and is illprepared for their proposed introduction next April, leading to fears that patients could be left without support.
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