Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
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Commission comments on rise in number of deaths of mental health patients
Commenting in response to new NHS figures that show a rise in the number of mental health patients dying unexpectedly in NHS care, a Commission spokesperson, said:
“These figures reveal serious cracks in our systems of care for those with mental health conditions and we support this call for a full Government investigation.'
“It is nearly one year since we published our inquiry into the non-natural deaths of hundreds of people with mental health conditions detained in psychiatric hospitals, prisons and police cells. In particular, it called for a new system of independent investigations into unexpected deaths of people detained in hospitals to match what exists in other settings. It is vital that this is now implemented and lessons are learned to prevent further avoidable harm and heartbreak.”
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Notes to editors:
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is a statutory body established under the Equality Act 2006. It operates independently to encourage equality and diversity, eliminate unlawful discrimination, and promote and protect human rights. The Commission enforces equality legislation on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. It encourages compliance with the Human Rights Act 1998 and is accredited by the UN as an ‘A status’ National Human Rights Institution.
