MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND MODERN MEDICINES

Early day motion 12, tabled 20 June 2001 by Ian Gibson (Labour). Signed by 112 members.

That this House affirms its commitment to continue to improve the mental health of the nation; recognises the steps taken to date through publication of the National Service Framework for Mental Health; welcomes the publication of a survey of honourable Members' views on mental health issues carried out by the Pharmaceutical Schizophrenia Initiative; notes that 38 per cent. of honourable Members believe that improving mental health should have a high priority compared with cancer and heart disease, and a further 59 per cent. that it should have the same priority; further notes that 72 per cent. of honourable Members surveyed support the appropriate prescribing of the modern atypical anti-psychotic medicines for schizophrenia; and welcomes the Government's referral of these medicines to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence as an opportunity to end the current postcode lottery which denies equitable patient choice.

Signatures by party: Labour 80, Liberal Democrat 16, Conservative 7, Labour/Co-operative 7, UUP 2.