The care of patients will be closely checked

The independent Mental Health Act Commission (MHAC) has said its visits to units will be more frequent, and often unannounced or at short notice.

It carried out a major review of its policies following concerns over the quality of care on some wards.

The checks will focus on issues such as how long a patient is detained in hospital and their treatment.

We hope the increased scrutiny will improve care for all detained patients Marjorie Wallace, Sane

Commissioners will also examine whether patients are being detained legally under the Mental Health Act and whether action has been taken to prevent patients harming themselves.

The commission used to visit hospitals and mental health around every nine months.

Earlier this year a report was published into the death of Jamaican-born David "Rocky" Bennett, 38, at The Norvic Clinic, Norwich, in October 1998 after being restrained by staff.

An inquiry into his death, led by retired High Court judge Sir John Blofeld, concluded that "institutional racism" was present across NHS mental health services and set out a raft of recommendations for improvements.

Patient rights

Deborah Jenkins, who led the MHAC's internal review, said: "What we are proposing is innovative, exciting, refreshing and a genuinely radical change.

"The review emphasises the position of the detained patient at the centre of our concerns and will mean greater focus on the involvement of patients in the deliberations of the commission."

Professor Kamlesh Patel, chairman of the commission, said: "The review is an opportunity to tackle the needs of all patients, including those from black and minority ethnic communities whose needs have not always been met by the NHS as effectively as they should be."

Marjorie Wallace, Chief Executive of the mental health charity Sane, said: "We welcome the increase in visits by the Commission, which recognises the importance of safeguarding the rights of patients to care and treatment in therapeutic, safe conditions rather than being left with nothing to do on bleak and often squalid wards.