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Consent to treatment

Explains your rights to consent to (or refuse) treatment, including what 'consent' means, when you can be treated without your consent, and how to make a complaint.

Useful contacts 

Mind's services

  • Legal Line – provides legal information and general advice by phone or email. 
  • Local Minds – provide face-to-face services, such as talking therapies, peer support and advocacy, across England and Wales.

Find an advocate

To find advocacy services and groups in your area, you could call Mind's Legal Line or contact your local Mind.

If you're in hospital, you can also contact:

In some circumstances, you may be legally entitled to get the support of an advocate. See our page on your legal rights to advocacy for more information.

Other organisations

Care Quality Commission (CQC)

cqc.org.uk
Regulates and inspects health and social care services in England.

Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW)

0300 062 8163
hiw.org.uk
Independent regulator for healthcare in Wales, where you can make complaints and provide feedback.

Mental Health Lawyers Association

mhla.co.uk
Professional association for solicitors specialising in mental health law. Includes a list of solicitors by local area.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

nice.org.uk
Produces guidelines on best practice in healthcare.

Office of the Public Guardian

gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-the-public-guardian
Protects people in England and Wales who may not have the mental capacity to make certain decisions for themselves, such as about their health and finance.

This information was published in March 2018. We will revise it in 2020.

References are available on request. If you would like to reproduce any of this information, see our page on permissions and licensing.

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