The reform of England and Wales' mental health crisis-care regime, comprising the Mental Health Act 2025 (which amends the Mental Health Act 1983 across detention criteria, nominated persons, advance choice documents, IMHAs, learning disability/autism scope, and removes police stations and prisons as places of safety) and the operational crisis-care architecture built around the 2014 Crisis Care Concordat and the 2023 Right Care, Right Person National Partnership Agreement.
Why linked: Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 — operationalising the CQC perimeter adjacent to the crisis-care regime.
These Regulations amend the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 (“the 2014 Regulations”).
Why linked: PQ of 28 April 2026 asking DHSC when draft statutory guidance under the 2025 Act will be published — live signal on implementation gap.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department intends to publish the draft statutory guidance for the Mental Health Act 2025 for consultation; and if he will commit to consulting by and for specialist …
Why linked: Written question on ICB guidance implementation – relevant to commissioning crisis services
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with Integrated Care Boards on policies on liothyronine, including requiring Exceptional/Individual Funding Requests and applying bans on new patients; and if he will is
Why linked: Mental Health Act 2025 Commencement Regulations - brings MHA 2025 provisions into force, essential for implementation timeline
These Regulations bring into force, on 6th April 2026, sections 51 and 52 of the Mental Health Act 2025 (“the 2025 Act”).
Why linked: Mental Health Act 2025 Commencement Regulations - brings MHA 2025 provisions into force, essential for implementation timeline
These Regulations bring into force, on 6th April 2026, sections 51 and 52 of the Mental Health Act 2025 (“the 2025 Act”).
Why linked: This is the HSCC's public statement criticising the government response, a key political accountability moment for crisis care policy.
The Chair said she was 'baffled' by a lack of commitment to implement national standards for waiting times for mental health services and a failure to commit to extending the pilot of 24/7 neighbourhood mental health centres.
Why linked: Statistics on detentions under Section 135 and 136 of Mental Health Act - core crisis detention mechanisms explicitly named in scope
Statistics on stop and search, arrests for notifiable offences. This release will also include statistics on detentions under Section 135 and Section 136 of the Mental Health Act previously included in the Other PACE powers statistics publication.
Why linked: CQC annual report on Mental Health Act 1983 use - directly covers detention and assessment powers, key instrument in interpreted scope
The Care Quality Commission’s annual report on the use of the Mental Health Act 1983.
Why linked: This is the HSCC press release accompanying the December 2025 community mental health report, highlighting the 24/7 crisis centre pilot as a key policy recommendation.
MPs have called for Ministers to continue funding a pilot of six innovative 24/7 Neighbourhood Mental Health Centres, with a view to opening one in every community.
Why linked: Statistics on detentions under Section 135 and 136 of Mental Health Act - core crisis detention mechanisms explicitly named in scope
Statistics on stop and search, arrests for notifiable offences and detentions under Section 135 and Section 136 of the Mental Health Act.
Why linked: Statistics on detentions under Section 135 and 136 of Mental Health Act - core crisis detention mechanisms explicitly named in scope
Statistics on stop and search, arrests for notifiable offences. This release will also include statistics on detentions under Section 135 and Section 136 of the Mental Health Act previously included in the Other PACE powers statistics publication.
Why linked: Official Mental Health Act Statistics 2024-25 - statutory data on detention and crisis response implementation
This publication is the official source of statistics on uses of the Mental Health Act in England.
Why linked: Commons Briefing Paper on Mental Health Act reform timeline – contextual background on statutory instrument development
Type: Commons Briefing Paper (CBP-9132) A timeline of reforming the Mental Health Act up to the draft Mental Health Bill, including the independent review, white paper, and pre-legislative scrutiny.
Why linked: Parliamentary debate on Mental Health Act Family Support - relevant to crisis care pathway
Commons Chamber debate | Commons
Why linked: CQC Monitoring the Mental Health Act 2023 to 2024 — prior-year scrutiny report providing the comparator for the January 2026 release.
The Care Quality Commission’s annual report on the use of the Mental Health Act 1983.
Why linked: Lords Library Note LLN-2024-0069 on the Mental Health Bill — independent scrutiny baseline for Lords Second Reading.
Type: Lords Library Note (LLN-2024-0069) The Mental Health Bill is a government bill that would amend the Mental Health Act 1983. The 1983 act is the current legislation that regulates the compulsory detention and treatment of those with a mental …
Why linked: Official MHA statistics 2023-24 – regulator publication on use of detention/assessment powers central to crisis care
This publication is the official source of statistics on uses of the Mental Health Act in England.
Why linked: CQC Section 48 special review of mental health services (Nottinghamshire) - regulatory enforcement action on crisis care service failure
UIN: HCWS66 On 30 January 2024, my predecessor as Secretary of State asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a special review of mental health services in Nottinghamshire in response to the horrendous killings of Ian Coates, Grace O’Malley-Kumar …
Why linked: Written Statement on Nottinghamshire CQC Section 48 Review – ministerial statement on mental health crisis service regulation
UIN: HLWS66 My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting MP) has made the following statement:On 30 January 2024, my predecessor as Secretary of State asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct …
Why linked: Written question on transfers of prisoners under MHA 1983 - relates to crisis intervention/detention in secure settings
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) male prisoners, (b) women prisoners and (c) young offenders were transferred to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983 in each year since 2010.
Why linked: Filled the "Crisis care concordats and local partnership agreements" gap via web research
In response to: National Partnership Agreement: Right Care, Right Person
Why linked: Government response to the Joint Committee on the draft Mental Health Bill (April 2024) — the policy bridge from draft Bill to introduced HL Bill 47.
Response to the Joint Committee’s recommendations for the draft Mental Health Bill to reform the Mental Health Act 1983 and deliver a modern mental health service.
Why linked: Written Statement on CQC Section 48 Review – ministerial statement on crisis service quality
UIN: HCWS391 On 30 January 2024, I requested that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) conduct a special review of mental health services in Nottinghamshire under section 48 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. The review includes three strands …
Why linked: Written Statement on CQC Section 48 Review of Nottinghamshire – ministerial statement on crisis service quality/enforcement
UIN: HLWS388 My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Victoria Atkins MP) made the following Written Statement: On 30 January 2024, I requested that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) conduct a special review of …
Why linked: Written question on aftercare provision following MHA detention - directly addresses statutory aftercare duty post-crisis
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that integrated care boards provide aftercare to eligible patients as set out in section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983.
Why linked: Written question asking specifically about crisis assessment and intervention services available - directly in scope
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what crisis assessment and intervention services are available to young people under the age of 18 in South Cumbria.
Why linked: Official MHA statistics 2022-23 – regulator publication tracking detention and assessment use
This publication is the official source of statistics on uses of the Mental Health Act in England.
Why linked: Health and Social Care Committee report evidence – parliamentary scrutiny of mental health services including crisis
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department of Health & Social Care (the Department) and NHS England (NHSE).1 We also took evidence from the Association of Directors of Adult …
Why linked: POSTnote on Mental Health Act Reform - Improve Patient Choice - research summary on crisis care policy changes
Type: POSTnote (POST-PN-0695) A POSTnote summarising proposed reforms to the Mental Health Act (1983) to improve patient choice, highlighting relevant research evidence and stakeholder perspectives.
Why linked: Written question on CQC 'Out of Sight' recommendations – parliamentary scrutiny of crisis restraint/segregation in inpatient crisis care
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to recommendation 3 of the Care Quality Commission report Out of Sight – who cares? Restraint, segregation and seclusion review, what steps he is taking to increase …
Why linked: PQ on detention duration under Mental Health Act - directly addresses crisis care pathway and acute assessment timescales
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of patients detained under the Mental Health Act spend (a) up to 24, (b) 25-48, (c) 49-72 and (d) over 72 hours on hospital triage wards, including …
Why linked: POSTnote on Mental Health Act Reform - Children and Young People - crisis care provision for minors
Type: POSTnote (POST-PN-0685) The UK Government has published a draft Mental Health Bill to amend the Mental Health Act (MHA) 1983. This POSTnote covers how and when the MHA is used to treat children and young people aged under 18 …
Why linked: Official MHA statistics 2021-22 – regulator publication on crisis detention/assessment
This publication is the official source of statistics on uses of the Mental Health Act in England.
Why linked: Written question on ICB and local authority mental health duties – statutory duty to provide crisis services
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to support (a) local authorities and (b) integrated care boards in meeting the requirements of Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983.
Why linked: The HSCC Expert Panel evaluation is the formal parliamentary assessment of whether the government met its NHS Long Term Plan crisis service commitments, including CRHT coverage.
All areas will provide crisis resolution and home treatment (CRHT) functions that are resourced to operate in line with recognised best practice, delivering a 24/7 community-based crisis response.
Why linked: POSTnote on Mental Health Act Reform - Race and Ethnic Inequalities - addresses equity in crisis response
Type: POSTnote (POST-PN-0671) A POSTnote that describes the race and ethnic inequalities in mental health, and Government plans to reform the Mental Health Act 1983.
Why linked: Reforming the Mental Health Act policy paper - core reform document
Reforming the Mental Health Act policy paper - core reform document
In response to: Reforming the Mental Health Act
Why linked: Reforming the Mental Health Act summary - foundational policy summary
Reforming the Mental Health Act summary - foundational policy summary
In response to: Reforming the Mental Health Act
Why linked: Government response to Mental Health Act Reform consultation - official policy position on crisis care changes
Government response to Mental Health Act Reform consultation - official policy position on crisis care changes
In response to: Reforming the Mental Health Act
Why linked: Reforming the Mental Health Act consultation outcome - reflects stakeholder input on crisis care reform
We want your views on changes to the Mental Health Act to help put patients at the centre of decisions about their own care.
Why linked: Ministerial statement on Mental Health Act reform consultation response - government policy direction on crisis care legal framework
UIN: HLWS185 My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Sajid Javid) has today made the following written ministerial statement:The Government has today published the joint Department of Health and Social Care and Ministry of …
Why linked: Parliamentary inquiry on inpatient mental health facilities and inadequate ratings - relates to crisis inpatient care standards and CQC enforcement
Furthermore, we recommend that autistic people and people with learning disabilities should never be admitted to an inpatient facilities that has received an “inadequate” rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The Department for Health & Social Care must bring …
Why linked: PQ on clinician engagement with detained persons - relates to crisis care patient experience and rights
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken to help ensure that clinicians engage with the concerns of people detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 who believe that they have …
Why linked: PQ on preventing inappropriate detention of people with learning disabilities and autism under Mental Health Act - crisis care safeguarding issue
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to (a) prevent people with learning disabilities and autism being inappropriately detained under the Mental Health Act 2007 and (b) ensure that adequate support …
Why linked: Mental Health Act approval instructions 2015 – guidance on approving doctors (key to crisis assessment pathway)
Instructions for approving doctors and clinicians under the Mental Health Act 1983.
Why linked: Guidance on Restricted Patients and Mental Health Act - applies to detained crisis patients
Revised Guidance on Restricted Patients and the Mental Health Act.
Why linked: CQC annual monitoring report on Mental Health Act 1983 use - core statutory oversight document for crisis care detention and assessment powers
The ninth annual report by the Care Quality Commission on the use of the Mental Health Act 1983.
Why linked: Parliamentary debate on Mental Health Act Section 136 - direct legislative mechanism for crisis detention and places of safety
Commons Chamber debate | Commons
Why linked: CQC annual monitoring report on Mental Health Act 1983 use - statutory oversight and compliance evidence
The eighth annual report by the Care Quality Commission on the use of the Mental Health Act 1983.
Why linked: CQC monitoring report 2015-2016 on Mental Health Act 1983 use
The seventh annual report by the Care Quality Commission on its monitoring activities of the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA).
Why linked: CQC annual monitoring report on Mental Health Act 1983 use - statutory monitoring of crisis care powers
The sixth annual report by the Care Quality Commission on its monitoring activities of the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA).
Why linked: CQC monitoring report on Mental Health Act 1983 – regulator scrutiny of crisis detention/assessment powers
The fifth annual report by the Care Quality Commission on our monitoring activities of the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA).
Why linked: Filled the "Crisis care concordats and local partnership agreements" gap via web research
The foundational UK Crisis Care Concordat — a joint statement signed by over 20 national organisations setting out how public services (health, police, social care) should work together to respond to people in mental health crisis, and requiring local areas …
Why linked: Post-legislative scrutiny of Mental Health Act 2007 - government response on effectiveness of crisis detention and assessment regime
Post-legislative scrutiny of Mental Health Act 2007 - government response on effectiveness of crisis detention and assessment regime