Mental health minister listens to a Cheltenham story

Published on Mon 29th Jan 2007

The high profile local case of James Green has gone all the way to the top. Mental health minister Rosie Winterton met James's brother Daniel to discuss how the law could soon change to help people diagnosed with personality disorder. James faced huge problems getting the treatment he wanted and needed but his case really hit the headlines after he set fire to the family home.

Local Lib Dem MP Martin Horwood won the hour-long meeting after lobbying for the courageous Cheltenham family who've coped with many distressing episodes and feel badly let down by the system.

"This is isn't just about James" said Martin "it's about all the others who've lost out because of the label they've been given. Campaigners are concerned the new law could threaten the rights of those who don't give their consent to treatment. The government does need to listen to them but equally we need to make sure the law doesn't let down people like James who cried out for help and didn't get it for a very long time."