Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, under what criteria NHS trusts can place mental health patients in care homes.

Mental health providers must comply with the requirements of the Mental Health Act 1983 and its Code of Practice when delivering mental health services.

We would expect that commissioners and providers would assess the clinical and care needs of a person to determine the most appropriate setting to deliver care, whether in a hospital of other setting such as a care home. The setting should be the least restrictive setting to meet the needs of the person.

Before it is decided that admission to hospital is necessary, consideration must be given to whether there are alternative means of providing the care and treatment which the patient requires. However, if a person requires treatment in hospital for their mental health needs then we would expect them to receive that treatment in a hospital, it is unlikely that a care home could provide equivalent treatment.