Mental Capacity Act (Northern Ireland) 2016

10.—(1) In this paragraph “relevant medical practitioner” means a medical practitioner by whom or under whose direction the supervised person—

(a) has been assessed in pursuance of a supervision and assessment order, or

(b) is being treated for a disorder in pursuance of such an order.

(2) Sub-paragraph (3) applies where any of the following conditions is met—

(a) the order requires the supervised person to attend or make himself or herself available for assessment at specified intervals, but a relevant medical practitioner considers that assessment at longer intervals is sufficient for the purposes mentioned in paragraph 2(3)(a) and (b);

(b) a relevant medical practitioner considers that it is necessary or desirable, for the purposes mentioned in paragraph 2(3)(a) and (b), to assess the supervised person more frequently than specified in the order;

(c) a relevant medical practitioner considers that the supervised person no longer requires treatment for his or her disorder;

(d) a relevant medical practitioner considers that the supervised person’s disorder is not (or is no longer) susceptible to treatment;

(e) a relevant medical practitioner considers that the assessment period should be extended (subject to sub-paragraph (5));

(f) a relevant medical practitioner is for any reason unwilling to continue to assess or treat, or direct the assessment or treatment of, the supervised person;

(g) a relevant medical practitioner becomes aware that the supervised person has been admitted to hospital as an in-patient.

(3) The relevant medical practitioner must make a report in writing to that effect to the supervising officer.

(4) The supervising officer must—

(a) in the case of a report made as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2)(a), inform the court which made the order;

(b) in the case of a report made as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2)(b) to (f), apply to a court of summary jurisdiction for the order to be amended as the court considers appropriate (including by cancelling the assessment element);

(c) in the case of a report made as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2)(g), apply to a court of summary jurisdiction for the assessment element to be suspended whilst the supervised person remains an in-patient.

(5) On an application made in the case of a report made as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2)(e)—

(a) if the court considers it appropriate for the assessment period to end later than the end of the existing supervision period, the court may extend the supervision period;

(b) the assessment period (as extended) must not end later than the end of the supervision period (as extended); and

(c) neither period may be extended beyond the end of 3 years from the date of the original order.