Care England, partners of the Quality Care Campaign, has voiced concerns about the content, process and progress of the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill.

Commenting on the Bill following its second reading in December, Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said: “The Bill had a rocky ride in the House of Lords and although peers worked hard to ameliorate its worst features, we remain concerned about a range of issues.

“This ill-considered Bill risks becoming a major hostage to fortune and needs to be slowed down and reconsidered.”

The Bill, introduced to the House of Lords at top speed this summer, diverged markedly from the Law Commission’s proposals.

Care England have said the lack of proper consultation, untenable Impact Assessment and many other serious defects have reduced the sector’s confidence in the Department of Health and Social Care.

Professor Green said: “The danger is that due to poor drafting, the true sentiment and intentions of the Bill, namely to improve the protection of vulnerable citizens who lack capacity are lost.”