Today I met with Nadine Dorries MP, Minister for Health, and Department for Health officials as part of my ongoing work to support the Mental Health Act Review. It will come as no surprise that improving mental health provision is incredibly important to me and was one of the driving reasons for me to enter politics.
As a former consultant psychiatrist I was involved in the Independent Review of the Mental health Act which published its report in December 2018. Following scrutiny of this review, the Government now plans to bring forward a White Paper on reform to mental health laws. I will be working closely with Government colleagues to bring forward these improvements to mental health provision. These changes have the ability to bring real improvements to the lives of many people who are suffering from mental illness.
In addition to improvements to the national framework, it is important that we also improve the delivery of mental health services within our communities. I am working closely with Tim Oliver as leader of Surrey County Council and currently Chair of the Surrey Heartlands System Board, and engaging with local NHS teams and other key stakeholders to address concerns around local mental health provision.
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