Ms Fiona Coyle:

I am happy to speak first. We need to acknowledge and recognise that complaints mechanisms are in place for service users to raise any complaints they may have. From our perspective and based on what we have been hearing from service users and given that within the area of mental health there are differences from other health areas such as deprivation of liberty or more openness to coercive practices, there is a need for that stand-alone independent complaints mechanism whereby people can raise their complaints and be independently supported. As I mentioned, we have not ratified the UNCRPD optional protocol, which is another mechanism for people to make those complaints. From our perspective and in regard to human rights and international best practice, we advocate for some kind of independent mechanism.