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The Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986
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Changes over time for: Section 15
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The Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, Section 15 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 27 April 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.
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Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.
Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Order associated Parts and Chapters:
Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Order (including any effects on those provisions):
- Sch. 5 Pt. 2 repealed in part by S.I. 2003/435 (N.I.) Sch. 5 (text not available on Legislation.gov.uk)
- Sch.05 Pt. 1 rev. in pt. by 1995 c. 35 s. 29(2) Sch. 3
- Sch. 5 Pt. 2 rev. in pt. by 1998 c. 47 s. 100(2) Sch. 15
- art. 14A inserted by 2016 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 8 para. 10
- art. 36(2)(za) inserted by 2016 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 8 para. 22(3)
- art. 36(3)(e) and word inserted by 2016 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 8 para. 22(4)(d)
- art. 37(1)(za) inserted by 2016 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 8 para. 23(2)(a)
- art. 37(1A) inserted by 2016 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 8 para. 23(3)
- art. 52 rev. by 1996 c. 46 s. 35(2) Sch.7 Pt. 3
- art.52 rev. (DrosD,) by 1996 c. 46 s. 35(2) Sch.7 Pt.III
- art. 63A 63B inserted by 2016 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 8 para. 31
- art. 67(2A) inserted by 2016 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 8 para. 35(4)
- art. 83(4A) inserted by 2016 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 8 para. 48(4)
- art. 120(4) inserted by 2016 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 8 para. 59(4
- art. 133(2A) inserted by 2016 c. 18 (N.I.) Sch. 8 para. 68(4)
Leave of absence from hospitalN.I.
15.—(1) The responsible medical officer may grant to any patient who is for the time being liable to be detained in a hospital under this Part leave to be absent from the hospital subject to such conditions, if any, as that officer considers necessary in the interests of the patient or for the protection of other persons.
(2) Leave of absence may be granted to a patient under this Article either on specified occasions or for any specified period; and where leave is so granted for a specified period, that period may be extended by further leave granted in the absence of the patient.
(3) Where it appears to the responsible medical officer that it is necessary to do so in the interests of the patient or for the protection of other persons, he may, upon granting leave of absence under this Article, direct that the patient remain in custody during his absence; and where leave of absence is so granted the patient may be kept in the custody of any officer of the responsible[F1 authority], or of any other person authorised in writing by that[F1 authority].
(4) Where leave of absence is granted to a patient under this Article or where a period of leave is extended by further leave and the leave or the extension is for a period of more than 28 days, it shall be the duty of the responsible[F1 authority] to inform [F2RQIA] within 14 days of the granting of leave or of the extension, as the case may be, of the address at which the patient is residing and, on the return of the patient, to notify [F2RQIA] thereof within 14 days.
(5) Where—
(a)a patient is absent from a hospital in pursuance of leave of absence granted under this Article; and
(b)it appears to the responsible medical officer that it is necessary to do so in the interests of the patient's health or safety or for the protection of other persons or because the patient is not receiving proper care;
that officer may, subject to paragraph (6), by notice in writing given to the patient or to the person for the time being in charge of the patient, revoke the leave of absence and recall the patient to the hospital.
(6) A patient to whom leave of absence is granted under this Article shall not be recalled under paragraph (5) after he has ceased to be liable to be detained under this Part.
F2Words in Order substituted (1.4.2009) by Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 (c. 1), ss. 32, 34(3), Sch. 6 para. 8(1) (subject to Sch. 6 para. 8(2)-(4)); S.R. 2009/114, art. 2
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Pt. II expiry of earlier affecting provision 2020 c. 7, Sch. 10 paras. 3-13 (25.3.2022) by Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7), s. 89 (with s. 90)
C2Art. 15 applied (31.3.2013) by Mental Health (Private Hospitals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 (S.R. 2013/22), regs. 1, 3(3)(l), 4
C3Art. 15 applied (31.3.2013) by Mental Health (Private Hospitals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (S.R. 2012/403), regs. 1, 3(3)(l), 4
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