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Mental Health (Amendment) Act 1982

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally enacted).

PART IDefinition of Mental Disorder

1Replacement of " subnormality " by " mental impairment"

(1)For references in the [1959 c. 72.] Mental Health Act 1959 (" the principal Act") to subnormality or severe subnormality there shall be substituted references to mental impairment or severe mental impairment within the meaning of section 4 of that Act as amended by subsection (2) below.

(2)For subsections (2) and (3) of the said section 4 there shall be substituted—

(2)In this Act ' severe mental impairment' means a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning and is associated with abnormally aggressive or seriously irresponsible conduct on the part of the person concerned.

(3)In this Act 'mental impairment' means a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind (not amounting to severe mental impairment) which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning and is associated with abnormally aggressive or seriously irresponsible conduct on the part of the person concerned.

2Other amendments of definition of mental disorder

(1)For subsection (4) of section 4 of the principal Act (definition of " psychopathic disorder ") there shall be substituted—

(4)In this Act' psychopathic disorder' means a persistent disorder or disability of mind (whether or not including significant impairment of intelligence) which results in abnormally aggressive or seriously irresponsible conduct on the part of the person concerned.

(2)In subsection (5) of that section (person not to be treated as suffering from mental disorder by reason only of promiscuity or other immoral conduct) after the words " or other immoral conduct " there shall be inserted the words " , sexual deviancy or dependence on alcohol or drugs. "

PART IICompulsory Admission to Hospital and Guardianship

Admission to hospital

3Admission for assessment

(1)In section 25 of the principal Act (under which a person may be detained in a hospital under observation if an application for admission for observation is made in accordance with that section)—

(a)for the words " application for admission for observation ", wherever they occur, there shall be substituted the words " application for admission for assessment "; and

(b)in subsection (2)(a) for the words "detention of the patient in a hospital under observation (with or without other medical treatment) " there shall be substituted the words " detention of the patient in a hospital for assessment (or for assessment followed by medical treatment) ".

(2)In section 27 of the principal Act (general provisions as to applications) after subsection (1) there shall be inserted—

(1A)Before or within a reasonable time after an application for the admission of a patient for assessment is made by a mental welfare officer, that officer shall take such steps as are practicable to inform the person (if any) appearing to be the nearest relative of the patient that the application is to be or has been made and of the power of the nearest relative under section 47 of this Act to discharge the patient.

(3)In section 29 of the principal Act (emergency application for admission for assessment)—

(a)in subsection (2) (persons by whom emergency application may be made) for the words " any relative of the patient" there shall be substituted the words " the nearest relative of the patient ";

(b)for subsection (4) there shall be substituted—

(4)In relation to an emergency application, section 27 of this Act shall have effect as if in subsection (3) of that section for the words " the period of fourteen days ending with the date of the application " there were substituted the words "the previous twenty-four hours.

(4)In section 31 of the principal Act—

(a)for subsection (1)(b) (time limit for acting on emergency application for admission for assessment) there shall be substituted—

(b)in the case of an emergency application, the period of twenty-four hours beginning at the time when the patient was examined by the practitioner giving the medical recommendation first referred to in subsection (3) of section 29 of this Act, or at the time when the application is made, whichever is the earlier;

(b)after subsection (3) there shall be inserted—

(3A)A patient who is admitted to a hospital in pursuance of an application for admission for assessment may apply to a Mental Health Review Tribunal within the period of fourteen days beginning with the day on which he is so admitted.

4Admission for treatment

(1)Section 26 of the principal Act (admission for treatment) shall be amended as follows.

(2)For subsection (2) (a) and (b) (grounds for application for admission of patient) there shall be substituted—

(a)that he is suffering from mental illness, severe mental impairment, psychopathic disorder or mental impairment, being a mental disorder of a nature or degree which makes it appropriate for him to receive medical treatment in a hospital; and

(b)in the case of psychopathic disorder or mental impairment, that such treatment is likely to alleviate or prevent a deterioration of his condition ; and

(c)that it is necessary for the health or safety of the patient or for the protection of other persons that he should receive such treatment and that it cannot be provided unless he is detained under this section.

(3)In subsection (3) (contents of medical recommendations) for the words " paragraphs (a) and (b)", " the said paragraph (a)" and "the said paragraph (b)" there shall be substituted respectively the words " paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) " , " the said paragraphs (a) and (b) " and " the said paragraph (c) ".

5Medical recommendations

(1)Section 28 of the principal Act (general provisions as to medical recommendations) shall be amended as follows.

(2)In subsection (1) (which requires the two practitioners making the recommendations to have examined the patient either together or at an interval of not more than seven days) for the words from " either together " onwards there shall be substituted the words " either together or separately but where they have examined the patient separately not more than five days must have elapsed between the days on which the separate examinations took place. "

(3)At the beginning of subsection (3) (which provides that only one of the recommendations may be given by a practitioner on the staff of the hospital to which the patient is to be admitted) there shall be inserted the words " Subject to subsection (3A) of this section " and after that subsection there shall be inserted—

(3A)Subsection (3) of this section shall not preclude both the medical recommendations being given by practitioners on the staff of the hospital in question if—

(a)compliance with that subsection would result in delay involving serious risk to the health or safety of the patient; and

(b)one of the practitioners giving the recommendations works at the hospital for less than half of the time which he is bound by contract to devote to work in the health service; and

(c)where one of those practitioners is a consultant, the other does not work (whether at the hospital or elsewhere) in a grade in which he is under that consultant's directions.

(4)In subsection (4)(e) after the words " subsection (3)" there shall be inserted the words " or (3A) ".

(5)After subsection (4) there shall be inserted—

(5)A general practitioner who is employed part-time in a hospital shall not for the purposes of this section be regarded as a practitioner on its staff.

6Patients already in hospital

(1)Section 30 of the principal Act (applications in respect of patients already in hospital) shall be amended as follows.

(2)In subsection (2) (detention for three days on report by medical practitioner in charge of the treatment of the patient) for the words " a period of three days beginning with the day on which the report is so furnished " there shall be substituted the words " a period of seventy-two hours from the time when the report is so furnished. "

(3)After subsection (2) there shall be inserted—

(3)The medical practitioner in charge of the treatment of a patient in a hospital may nominate one (but not more than one) other medical practitioner on the staff of that hospital to act for him under subsection (2) of this section in his absence.

(4)If, in the case of a patient who is receiving treatment for mental disorder as an in-patient in a hospital and who is not liable to be detained therein under this Part of this Act, it appears to a nurse of the prescribed class—

(a)that the patient is suffering from mental disorder to such a degree that it is necessary for his health or safety or for the protection of others for him to be immediately restrained from leaving the hospital ; and

(b)that it is not practicable to secure the immediate at tendance of a practitioner for the purpose of furnishing a report under subsection (2) of this section,

the nurse may record that fact in writing; and in that event the patient may be detained in the hospital for a period of six hours from the time when that fact is so recorded or until the earlier arrival at the place where the patient is detained of a practitioner having power to furnish a report under that subsection.

(5)A record made under subsection (4) of this section shall be delivered by the nurse (or by a person authorised by the nurse in that behalf) to the managers of the hospital as soon as possible after it is made; and where a record is made under that subsection the period mentioned in subsection (2) of this section shall begin at the time when it is made.

(6)In subsection (4) of this section " prescribed " means prescribed by an order made by the Secretary of State.

Reception into guardianship

7Guardianship applications

(1)Section 33 of the principal Act (application for guardianship) shall be amended as follows.

(2)In subsection (1) for the words " A patient may be received into guardianship" there shall be substituted the words " A patient who has attained the age of sixteen years may be received into guardianship ".

(3)In subsection (2)(a) (guardianship application on grounds of mental disorder, being, in the case of a patient of any age, mental illness or severe subnormality or, in the case of a patient under the age of twenty-one years, psychopathic disorder or sub-normality) for sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) there shall be substituted the words " mental illness, severe mental impairment, psychopathic disorder or mental impairment ".

(4)In subsection (2)(b) (guardianship necessary in the interests of the patient) for the words " the interests of the patient" there shall be substituted the words " the interests of the welfare of the patient ".

8Effect of guardianship applications

In section 34(1) of the principal Act (under which the effect of a guardianship application when duly accepted is to confer on the guardian all such powers as would be exercisable if the guardian were the father of the patient and the patient were under the age of fourteen years) for the words from " all such powers " onwards there shall be substituted the words " the following powers, that is to say—

(a)power to require the patient to reside at a place specified by the authority or person named as guardian ;

(b)power to require the patient to attend at places and times so specified for the purpose of medical treatment, occupation, education or training ;

(c)power to require access to the patient to be given, at any place where the patient is residing, to any registered medical practitioner, mental welfare officer or other person so specified."

Care and treatment of detained patients

9Visiting and examination of patients

(1)Section 37 of the principal Act (visiting and examination of patients) shall be amended as follows.

(2)After subsection (1) there shall be inserted—

(1A)Any medical practitioner authorised for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section to visit and examine a patient may require the production of and inspect any records relating to the detention or treatment of the patient in any hospital.

(3)In subsection (2) (examination of patients in mental nursing homes) for the words "a registration authority" there shall be substituted the words " the Secretary of State " and for the words " that authority " there shall be substituted the words " the Secretary of State or, as the case may be, that authority ".

(4)In subsection (3) (production and inspection of medical records of patients in mental nursing homes) for the words " medical records" there shall be substituted the word " records ".

10Re-classification of patients

After section 38(1) of the principal Act (re-classification of patients) there shall be inserted—

(1A)Where a report under subsection (1) of this section in respect of a patient detained in a hospital is to the effect that he is suffering from psychopathic disorder or mental impairment but not from mental illness or severe mental impairment the responsible medical officer shall include in the report a statement of his opinion whether further medical treatment in hospital is likely to alleviate or prevent a deterioration of the patient's condition; and if he states that in his opinion such treatment is not likely to have that effect the authority of the managers to detain the patient shall cease.

(1B)Before furnishing a report under subsection (1) of this section the responsible medical officer shall consult one or more other persons who have been professionally concerned with the patient's medical treatment.

11Leave of absence and patients absent without leave

(1)Sections 39 and 40 of the principal Act (1eave of absence and patients absent without leave) shall be amended as follows.

(2)At the end of subsection (3) of section 39 (persons who may have custody of patient during leave of absence) there shall be inserted the words " or, if the patient is required in accordance with conditions imposed on the grant of leave of absence to reside in another hospital, of any officer on the staff of that other hospital. "

(3)After subsection (1) of section 40 (persons who may take into custody and return a patient absent without leave) there shall be inserted—

(1A)Where the place referred to in paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of this section is a hospital other than the one in which the patient is for the time being liable to be detained, the references in that subsection to an officer on the staff of the hospital and the managers of the hospital shall respectively include references to an officer on the staff of the first-mentioned hospital and the managers of that hospital.

(4)In subsection (3) of section 40 (period within which patient may be taken into custody) for the words from " after the expiration of the following period " to " twenty-eight days " there shall be substituted the words " after the expiration of the period of twenty-eight days beginning with the first day of his absence without leave ".

(5)After subsection (3) of section 40 there shall be inserted—

(3A)A patient shall not be taken into custody under this section if the period for which he is liable to be detained is that specified in section 25(4), 29(3) or 30(2) or (4) of this Act and that period has expired.

Duration of detention or guardianship and discharge of patients

12Duration of authority for detention and guardianship

(1)Section 43 of the principal Act (duration of authority for detention and guardianship) shall be amended as follows.

(2)In subsections (1) and (2)(a) (initial period of detention or guardianship and period of first renewal) for the words "one year " there shall be substituted the words " six months ".

(3)In subsection (2) (subsequent periods of renewal) for the words " two years", in both places where they occur, there shall be substituted the words " one year ".

(4)In subsection (3) (renewal report by responsible medical officer) for the words from " if it appears to him " onwards there shall be substituted the words " if it appears to him that the conditions set out in subsection (3A) of this section are satisfied he shall furnish to the managers of the hospital where the patient is detained a report to that effect in the prescribed form. "

(5)After subsection (3) there shall be inserted—

(3A)The conditions referred to in subsection (3) of this section are—

(a)that the patient is suffering from mental illness,

severe mental impairment, psychopathic disorder or mental impairment, being a mental disorder of a nature or degree which makes it appropriate for him to receive medical treatment in a hospital; and

(b)that such treatment is likely to alleviate or prevent a deterioration of his condition ; and

(c)that it is necessary for the health or safety of the patient or for the protection of other persons that he should receive such treatment and that it cannot be provided unless he continues to be detained ;

but, in the case of mental illness or severe mental impairment, it shall be an alternative to the condition specified in paragraph (b) of this subsection that the patient, if discharged, is unlikely to be able to care for himself, to obtain the care which he needs or to guard himself against serious exploitation.

(3B)Before furnishing a report under subsection (3) of this section the responsible medical officer shall consult one or more other persons who have been professionally concerned with the patient's medical treatment.

(6)In subsection (4) (renewal report in case of guardianship) for the words from " if it appears to him" onwards there shall be substituted the words

if it appears to him—

(i)that the patient is suffering from mental illness, severe mental impairment, psychopathic disorder or mental impairment, being a mental disorder of a nature or degree which warrants his reception into guardianship, and

(ii)that it is necessary in the interests of the welfare of the patient or for the protection of other persons that the patient should remain under guardianship,

he shall furnish to the guardian and, where the guardian is a person other than a local social services authority, the responsible local social services authority a report to that effect in the prescribed form.

(7)After subsection (5) there shall be inserted—

(5A)Where the form of mental disorder specified in a report furnished under subsection (3) or (4) of this section is a form of disorder other than that specified in the application for admission for treatment or, as the case may be, in the guardianship application, that application shall have effect as if that other form of mental disorder were specified in it; and where on any occasion a report specifying such a form of mental disorder is furnished under either of those subsections by the responsible medical officer or the patient's nominated medical attendant he need not on that occasion furnish a report under section 38 of this Act.

13Discharge of patients

(1)For paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 47(2) of the principal Act (under which the patient's nearest relative may make an order of discharge if the patient is liable to be detained in pursuance of an application for admission for treatment but not if he is liable to be detained in pursuance of an application for admission for assessment) there shall be substituted—

(a)where the patient is liable to be detained in a hospital in pursuance of an application for admission for assessment or for treatment, by the responsible medical officer, by the managers or by the nearest relative of the patient;.

(2)In subsection (3) of section 48 of the principal Act (right of nearest relative to apply to Mental Health Review Tribunal if his order for discharge is nullified under subsection (2) of that section) after the words " in respect of a patient " there shall be inserted the words " who is liable to be detained in pursuance of an application for admission for treatment ".

Functions of relatives of patients

14Definition of relative and nearest relative

(1)Section 49 of the principal Act (definition of relative and nearest relative) shall be amended as follows.

(2)In subsection (1) for paragraphs (c) and (d) there shall be substituted—

(c)father or mother ;.

(3)After subsection (3) there shall be inserted—

(3A)Subject to the provisions of this section and to the following provisions of this Part of this Act, where the patient ordinarily resides with or is cared for by one or more of his relatives (or, if he is for the time being an inpatient in a hospital, he last ordinarily resided with or was cared for by one or more of his relatives) his nearest relative shall be determined—

(a)by giving preference to that relative or those relatives over the other or others ; and

(b)as between two or more such relatives, in accordance with subsection (3) of this section.

(4)In subsection (4) after the words " subsection (3)" there shall be inserted the words " or (3A) " and for paragraph (a) there shall be substituted—

(a)in the case of a patient ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, is not so resident; or.

(5)After subsection (6) there shall be inserted—

(7)A person, other than a relative, with whom the patient ordinarily resides (or, if the patient is for the time being an in-patient in a hospital, last ordinarily resided before he was admitted), and with whom he has or had been ordinarily residing for a period of not less than five years, shall be treated for the purposes of this Part of this Act as if he were a relative but—

(a)shall be treated for the purposes of subsection (3) of this section as if mentioned last in subsection (1) of this section ; and

(b)shall not be treated by virtue of this subsection as the nearest relative of a married patient unless the husband or wife of the patient is disregarded by virtue of paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of this section.

15Appointment by court of acting nearest relative

(1)Sections 52 and 53 of the principal Act (appointment by court of acting nearest relative) shall be amended as follows.

(2)After section 52(4) there shall be inserted—

(4A)An order made on the ground specified in subsection (3) (a) or (b) of this section may specify a period for which it is to continue in force unless previously discharged under section 53 of this Act.

(3)In section 53(4) after the words " cease to have effect" there shall be inserted the words " at the expiration of the period, if any, specified under subsection (4A) of that section or, where no period is so specified ".

Applications and references

16Applications by mental welfare officers

(1)Section 54 of the principal Act (duty of mental welfare officer to make applications) shall be amended as follows.

(2)In subsection (1) for the words " the local authority " there shall be substituted the words " the local social services authority ".

(3)After subsection (1) there shall be inserted—

(1A)Before making an application for the admission of a patient to hospital a mental welfare officer shall interview the patient in a suitable manner and satisfy himself that detention in a hospital is in all the circumstances of the case the most appropriate way of providing the care and medical treatment of which the patient stands in need.

(1B)An application under this section by a mental welfare officer may be made outside the area of the local social services authority by whom he is appointed.

(1C)It shall be the duty of a local social services authority, if so required by the nearest relative of a patient residing in their area, to direct a mental welfare officer as soon as practicable to take the patient's case into consideration under subsection (1) of this section with a view to making an application for his admission to hospital; and if in any such case that officer decides not to make an application he shall inform the nearest relative of his reasons in writing.

17Social reports

Where a patient is admitted to a hospital in pursuance of an application (other than an emergency application) made under Part IV of the principal Act by his nearest relative, the managers of the hospital shall as soon as practicable give notice of that fact to the local social services authority for the area in which the patient resided immediately before his admission; and that authority shall as soon as practicable arrange for a social worker of their social services department to interview the patient and provide the managers with a report on his social circumstances.

18Power of Secretary of State to refer cases to tribunal

The existing provisions of section 57 of the principal Act (power of Secretary of State to refer cases to tribunal) shall become subsection (1) and after those provisions there shall be inserted—

(2)For the purpose of furnishing information for the purposes of such a reference any medical practitioner authorised by or on behalf of the patient may, at any reasonable time, visit the patient and examine him in private and require the production of and inspect any records relating to the detention or treatment of the patient in any hospital.

PART IIIPatients Concerned in Criminal Proceedings etc.

Hospital orders

19Power to make hospital order

(1)Section 60 of the principal Act (power of court to make hospital order) shall be amended as follows.

(2)In subsection (1) after the words " convicted before the Crown Court of an offence " there shall be inserted the words " punishable with imprisonment ".

(3)For subsection (1)(a) there shall be substituted—

(a)the court is satisfied, on the written or oral evidence of two medical practitioners (complying with the provisions of section 62 of this Act), that the offender is suffering from mental illness, psychopathic disorder, mental impairment or severe mental impairment and that the conditions set out in subsection (1A) of this section are complied with ; and.

(4)After subsection (1) there shall be inserted—

(1A)The conditions referred to in subsection (1)(a) of this section are—

(a)that the mental disorder from which the offender is suffering is of a nature or degree which makes it appropriate for him to be detained in a hospital for medical treatment and, in the case of psychopathic disorder or mental impairment, that such treatment is likely to alleviate or prevent a deterioration of his condition ; or

(b)in the case of an offender who has attained the age of sixteen years, that the mental disorder is of a nature or degree which warrants his reception into guardianship under this Act.

(5)In subsection (3) (which requires the court to be satisfied that arrangements have been made for the admission of the offender to the hospital in question) after the words " unless the court is satisfied " there shall be inserted the words " on the written or oral evidence of the medical practitioner who would be in charge of his treatment or of some other person representing the managers of the hospital ".

20Applications in respect of patient subject to hospital order

(1)After subsection (3) of section 63 of the principal Act (effect of hospital orders and guardianship orders) there shall be inserted—

(3A)Without prejudice to any provision of Part IV of this Act as applied by this section, an application to a Mental Health Review Tribunal in respect of a patient admitted to a hospital in pursuance of a hospital order may be made by the nearest relative of the patient—

(a)in the period between the expiration of six months and the expiration of twelve months beginning with the date of the order ; and

(b)in any subsequent period of twelve months.

(2)In subsection (4) of that section the words " admitted to a hospital in pursance of a hospital order, or " shall be omitted.

(3)Where a person detained in a hospital or mental nursing home—

(a)is treated as subject to a hospital order or transfer direction by virtue of section 37(2) below, section 65(5) or 87(2) of the principal Act, section 73(2) of the [1960 c. 61.] Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1960 or section 5(1) of the [1964 c. 84.] Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 ; or

(b)is subject to a direction having the same effect as a hospital order by virtue of section 71(4), 72(3) or 73(3) of the principal Act,

then, without prejudice to any provision of Part IV of the principal Act as applied by section 63 of that Act, that person may make an application to a Mental Health Review Tribunal in the period of six months beginning with the date of the order or direction mentioned in paragraph (a) above or, as the case may be, the date of the direction mentioned in paragraph (b) above.

(4)In sections 52(1) and (5) and 53 of the principal Act (appointment by court of acting nearest relative) references to Part IV of that Act shall include references to section 63 (3A) and (4) of that Act and in subsection (4)(a) of section 53 of that Act the reference to detention in pursuance of an application for admission for treatment and to guardianship under tot Part shall include a reference to detention and guardianship by virtue of an order or direction under Part V of that Act.

21Committal for hospital order

(1)Section 68 of the principal Act (admission to hospital of person committed by magistrates' court with a view to the making of a hospital order) shall be amended as follows.

(2)In subsection (1) for the words " the magistrates" court by which he is committed is satisfied that arrangements have been made for the admission of "the offender to a hospital there shall be substituted the words " the magistrates' court by which he is committed is satisfied, on written or oral evidence, that arrangements have been made for the admission of the offender to a hospital ".

(3)After subsection (1) there shall be inserted—

(1A)The evidence required by subsection (1) of this section shall be given by the medical practitioner who would be in charge of the offender's treatment or by some other person representing the managers of the hospital in question.

Transfer directions

22Removal to hospital of persons serving sentences of imprisonment etc.

For section 72(1 )(b) of the principal Act (removal to hospital of persons serving sentences of imprisonment etc..) there shall be substituted—

(b)that the mental disorder from which that person is suffering is of a nature or degree which makes it appropriate for him to be detained in a hospital for medical treatment and, in the case of psychopathic disorder or mental impairment, that such treatment is likely to alleviate or prevent a deterioration of his condition;.

23Removal to hospital of other prisoners

(1)Section 73 of the principal Act (removal to hospital of other prisoners) shall be amended as follows.

(2)In subsection (1) for the words " which warrants the detention of the patient in a hospital for medical treatment" there shall be substituted the words " which makes it appropriate for him to be detained in a hospital for medical treatment and that the patient is in urgent need of such treatment ".

(3)For paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of subsection (2) there shall be substituted—

(a)persons detained in a prison or remand centre, not being persons serving a sentence of imprisonment or persons falling within the following paragraphs of this subsection;.

(4)For paragraph (f) of subsection (2) there shall be substituted—

(f)persons detained under the Immigration Act 1971.

24Persons under sentence

(1)Section 75 of the principal Act (provisions applying where person under sentence has been transferred to hospital) shall be amended as follows.

(2)In subsection (1) for the words " and the Secretary of State is notified by the responsible medical officer at any time before the expiration of that person's sentence that that person no longer requires treatment for mental disorder " there shall be substituted the words " and before the expiration of that person's sentence the Secretary of State is notified by the responsible medical officer, any other medical practitioner or a Mental Health Review Tribunal that that person no longer requires treatment in hospital for mental disorder or that no effective treatment for his disorder can be given in the hospital to which he has been removed ".

(3)At the end of subsection (3) there shall be inserted the words " and that period shall be treated as expiring on the date on which he could have been discharged if he had not forfeited remission of any part of the sentence after his removal pursuant to the direction ".

25Persons committed for trial etc.

(1)Section 76 of the principal Act (provisions applying where person committed for trial etc. has been transferred to hospital) shall be amended as follows.

(2)In subsection (2)(a)—

(a)for the words " the Secretary of State is notified by the responsible medical officer at any time before that person is brought before the court" there shall be substituted the words " the Secretary of State is notified by the responsible medical officer, any other medical practitioner or a Mental Health Review Tribunal at any time before that person's case is disposed of by the court ";

(b)for the words " that he no longer requires treatment for mental disorder " there shall be substituted the words " that he no longer requires treatment in hospital for mental disorder or that no effective treatment for his disorder can be given at the hospital to which he has been removed ".

(3)After subsection (2)(a) there shall be inserted—

(aa)if (no direction having been given under paragraph (a) of this subsection) that court is satisfied, on the written or oral evidence of the responsible medical officer, that that person no longer requires treatment in hospital for mental disorder or that no effective treatment for his disorder can be given at the hospital to which he has been removed, the court may order him to be remitted to any such place as aforesaid or released on bail and on his arrival at that place or, as the case may be, his release on bail the transfer direction shall cease to have effect;.

(4)In subsection (2) (b) for the words " (no direction having been given under paragraph (a) of this subsection) " there shall be substituted the words " (no direction or order having been given or made under paragraph (a) or (aa) of this subsection) ".

(5)In subsection (3) for the words " on the oral evidence of at least two medical practitioners " there shall be substituted the words " on the written or oral evidence of at least two medical practitioners " and for the the words " which warrants the detention of the patient in a hospital for medical treatment" there shall be substituted the words " which makes it appropriate for the patient to be detained in a hospital for medical treatment ".

26Persons remanded by magistrates' courts

(1)This section has effect where a transfer direction has been given in respect of a person remanded in custody by a magistrates' court; and that person is in this section referred to as " the accused ".

(2)Subject to subsection (5) below, the transfer direction shall cease to have effect on the expiration of the period of remand unless the accused is committed in custody to the Crown Court for trial or to be otherwise dealt with.

(3)Subject to subsection (4) below, the power of further remanding the accused under section 128 of the [1980 c. 43.] Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 may be exercised by the court without his being brought before the court; and if the court further remands the accused in custody (whether or not he is brought before the court) the period of remand shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed not to have expired.

(4)The court shall not under subsection (3) above further remand the accused in his absence unless he has appeared before the court within the previous six months.

(5)If the magistrates' court is satisfied, on the written or oral evidence of the responsible medical officer—

(a)that the accused no longer requires treatment in hospital for mental disorder; or

(b)that no effective treatment for his disorder can be given in the hospital to which he has been removed,

the court may direct that the transfer direction shall cease to have effect notwithstanding that the period of remand has not expired or that the accused is committed to the Crown Court as mentioned in subsection (2) above.

(6)If the accused is committed to the Crown Court as mentioned in subsection (2) above and the transfer direction has not ceased to have effect under subsection (5) above, section 76 of the principal Act shall apply as if the transfer direction given in his case were a direction given in respect of a person falling within that section.

(7)The magistrates' court may, in the absence of the accused, inquire as examining justices into an offence alleged to have been committed by him and commit him for trial in accordance with section 6 of the [1980 c. 43.] Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 if—

(a)the court is satisfied, on the written or oral evidence of the responsible medical officer, that the accused is unfit to take part in the proceedings ; and

(b)where the court proceeds under subsection (1) of that section, the accused is represented by counsel or a solicitor.

27Civil prisoners and persons detained under the Immigration Act 1971

(1)Subject to subsection (2) below, a transfer direction given in respect of any such person as is described in paragraph (e) or (f) of section 73(2) of the principal Act (civil prisoners and persons detained under the [1971 c. 77.] Immigration Act 1971) shall cease to have effect on the expiration of the period during which he would, but for his removal to hospital, be liable to be detained in the place from which he was removed.

(2)Where a transfer direction and a restriction direction have been given in respect of any such person as is mentioned in subsection (1) above, then, if the Secretary of State is notified by the responsible medical officer, any other medical practitioner or a Mental Health Review Tribunal at any time before the expiration of the period there mentioned—

(a)that that person no longer requires treatment in hospital for mental disorder ; or

(b)that no effective treatment for his disorder can be given in the hospital to which he has been removed,

the Secretary of State may by warrant direct that he be remitted to any place where he might have been detained if he had not been removed to hospital, and on his arrival at the place to which he is so remitted the transfer direction and the restriction direction shall cease to have effect.

Orders and directions restricting discharge

28Restriction orders and restriction directions

(1)In section 65(1) of the principal Act (power to make an order restricting an offender's discharge if necessary for the protection of the public) after the words " the protection of the public " there shall be inserted the words " from Serious harm "and the same amendment shall be made in section 66(1) of that Act (power to revoke order if no longer required for that purpose).

(2)An order under section 65 of the principal Act shall be known as " a restriction order" instead of as " an order restricting discharge "; and a direction under section 74 of that Act (which has the same effect as such an order) shall be known as " a restriction direction " instead of as " a direction restricting discharge ".

(3)While a person is subject to a restriction order or a restriction direction the responsible medical officer shall at such intervals (not exceeding one year) as the Secretary of State may direct examine and report to the Secretary of State on that person; and every report shall contain such particulars as the Secretary of State may require.

(4)Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect for enabling persons who are subject to restriction orders or restriction directions to be discharged by Mental Health Review Tribunals ; and section 66(6) to (8) of the principal Act (under which such a tribunal has only advisory powers in respect of such persons) shall cease to have effect.

Remands to hospital and interim hospital orders

29Remand to hospital for report on accused's mental condition

(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, the Crown Court or a magistrates' court may remand an accused person to a hospital specified by the court for a report on his mental condition.

(2)For the purposes of this section an accused person is—

(a)in relation to the Crown Court, any person who is awaiting trial before the court for an offence punishable with imprisonment or who has been arraigned before the court for such an offence and has not yet been sentenced or otherwise dealt with for the offence for which he has been arraigned ;

(b)in relation to a magistrates' court, any person who has been convicted by the court of an offence punishable on summary conviction with imprisonment and any person charged with such an offence if the court is satisfied that he did the act or made the omission charged or he has consented to the exercise by the court of the powers conferred by this section.

(3)Subject to subsection (4) below, the powers conferred by this section may be exercised if—

(a)the court is satisfied, on the written or oral evidence of a medical practitioner approved for the purposes of section 28 of the principal Act, that there is reason to suspect that the accused person is suffering from mental illness, psychopathic disorder, mental impairment or severe mental impairment; and

(b)the court is of opinion that it would be impracticable for a report on his mental condition to be made if he were remanded on bail ;

but those powers shall not be exercised by the Crown Court in respect of a person who has been convicted before the court if the sentence for the offence of which he has been convicted is fixed by law.

(4)The court shall not remand an accused person to a hospital under this section unless satisfied, on the written or oral evidence of the medical practitioner who would be responsible for making the report or of some other person representing the managers of the hospital, that arrangements have been made for his admission to that hospital and for his admission to it within the period of seven days beginning with the date of the remand ; and if the court is so satisfied it may, pending his admission, give directions for his conveyance to and detention in a place of safety.

(5)Where a court has remanded an accused person under this section it may further remand him if it appears to the court, on the written or oral evidence of the medical practitioner responsible for making the report, that a further remand is necessary for completing the assessment of the accused person's mental condition.

(6)The power of further remanding an accused person under this section may be exercised by the court without his being brought before the court if he is represented by counsel or a solicitor and his counsel or solicitor is given an opportunity of being heard.

(7)An accused person shall not be remanded or further remanded under this section for more than twenty-eight days at a time or for more than twelve weeks in all; and the court may at any time terminate the remand if it appears to the court that it is appropriate to do so.

(8)An accused person remanded to hospital under this section shall be entitled to obtain at his own expense an independent report on his mental condition from a medical practitioner chosen by him and to apply to the court on the basis of it for his remand to be terminated under subsection (7) above.

(9)Where an accused person is remanded under this section—

(a)a constable or any other person directed to do so by the court shall convey the accused person to the hospital specified by the court within the period mentioned in subsection (4) above ; and

(b)the managers of the hospital shall admit him within that period and thereafter detain him in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(10)If an accused person absconds from a hospital to which he has been remanded under this section, or while being conveyed to or from that hospital, he may be arrested without warrant by any constable and shall, after being arrested, be brought as soon as practicable before the court that remanded him ; and the court may thereupon terminate the remand and deal with him in any way in which it could have dealt with him if he had not been remanded under this section.

30Remand of accused person to hospital for treatment

(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, the Crown Court may, instead of remanding an accused person in custody, remand him to a hospital specified by the court if satisfied, on the written or oral evidence of two medical practitioners, that he is suffering from mental illness or severe mental impairment of a nature or degree which makes it appropriate for him to be detained in a hospital for medical treatment.

(2)For the purposes of this section an accused person is any person who is in custody awaiting trial before the Crown Court for an offence punishable with imprisonment (other than an offence the sentence for which is fixed by law) or who at any time before sentence is in custody in the course of a trial before that court for such an offence.

(3)Of the medical practitioners whose evidence is taken into account under subsection (1) above at least one shall be a practitioner approved for the purposes of section 28 of the principal Act.

(4)The court shall not remand an accused person under this section to a hospital unless it is satisfied, on the written or oral evidence of the medical practitioner who would be in charge of his treatment or of some other person representing the managers of the hospital, that arrangements have been made for his admission to that hospital and for his admission to it within the period of seven days beginning with the date of the remand ; and if the court is so satisfied it may, pending his admission, give directions for his conveyance to and detention in a place of safety.

(5)Where a court has remanded an accused person under this section it may further remand him if it appears to the court, on the written or oral evidence of the responsible medical officer, that a further remand is warranted.

(6)The power of further remanding an accused person under this section may be exercised by the court without his being brought before the court if he is represented by counsel or a solicitor and his counsel or solicitor is given an opportunity of being heard.

(7)An accused person shall not be remanded or further remanded under this section for more than twenty-eight days at a time or for more than twelve weeks in all; and the court may at any time terminate the remand if it appears to the court that it is appropriate to do so.

(8)An accused person remanded to hospital under this section shall be entitled to obtain at his own expense an independent report on his mental condition from a medical practitioner chosen by him and to apply to the court on the basis of it for his remand to be terminated under subsection (7) above.

(9)Subsections (9) and (10) of section 29 above shall have effect in relation to a remand under this section as they have effect in relation to a remand under that section.

31Interim hospital orders

(1)Where a person is convicted before the Crown Court of an offence punishable with imprisonment (other than an offence the sentence for which is fixed by law) or is convicted by a magistrates' court of an offence punishable on summary conviction with imprisonment and the court before or by which he is convicted is satisfied, on the written or oral evidence of two medical practitioners—

(a)that the offender is suffering from mental illness, psychopathic disorder, mental impairment or severe mental impairment; and

(b)that there is reason to suppose that the mental disorder from which the offender is suffering is such that it may be appropriate for a hospital order to be made in his case,

the court may, before making a hospital order or dealing with him in some other way, make an order (" an interim hospital order ") authorising his admission to such hospital as may be specified in the order and his detention there in accordance with this section.

(2)In the case of an offender who is subject to an interim hospital order the court may make a hospital order without his being brought before the court if he is represented by counsel or a solicitor and his counsel or solicitor is given an opportunity of being heard.

(3)Of the medical practitioners whose evidence is taken into account under subsection (1) above at least one shall be a practitioner approved for the purposes of section 28 of the principal Act and at least one shall be employed at the hospital which is to be specified in the order.

(4)An interim hospital order shall not be made for the admission of an offender to a hospital unless the court is satisfied, on the written or oral evidence of the medical practitioner who would be in charge of his treatment or of some other person representing the managers of the hospital, that arrangements have been made for his admission to that hospital and for his admission to it within the period of twenty-eight days beginning with the date of the order; and if the court is so satisfied the court may, pending his admission, give directions for his conveyance to and detention in a place of safety.

(5)An interim hospital order—

(a)shall be in force for such period, not exceeding twelve weeks, as the court may specify when making the order; but

(b)may be renewed for further periods of not more than twenty-eight days at a time if it appears to the court, on the written or oral evidence of the responsible medical officer, that the continuation of the order is warranted;

but no such order shall continue in force for more than six months in all and the court shall terminate the order if it makes a hospital order in respect of the offender or decides, after considering the written or oral evidence of the responsible medical officer, to deal with the offender in some other way.

(6)The power of renewing an interim hospital order may be exercised without the offender being brought before the court if he is represented by counsel or a solicitor and his counsel or solicitor is given an opportunity of being heard.

(7)Where an interim hospital order is made in respect of an offender—

(a)a constable or any other person directed to do so by the court shall convey the offender to the hospital specified in the order within the period mentioned in subsection (4) above ; and

(b)the managers of the hospital shall admit him within that period and thereafter detain him in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(8)If an offender absconds from a hospital in which he is detained in pursuance of an interim hospital order, or while being conveyed to or from such a hospital, he may be arrested without warrant by a constable and shall, after being arrested, be brought as soon as practicable before the court that made the order; and the court may thereupon terminate the order and deal with him in any way in which it could have dealt with him if no such order had been made.

Information and evidence

32Information as to hospitals

(1)Where a court is minded to make a hospital order (or interim hospital order in respect of any person it may request—

(a)the Regional Health Authority for the region in which that person resides or last resided ; or

(b)any other Regional Health Authority that appears to the court to be appropriate,

to furnish the court with such information as that Authority has or can reasonably obtain with respect to the hospital or hospitals (if any) in its region or elsewhere at which arrangements could be made for the admission of that person in pursuance of the order, and that Authority shall comply with any such request.

(2)In its application to Wales, subsection (1) above shall have effect as if for any reference to any such Authority as is mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of that subsection there were substituted a reference to the Secretary of State, and as if for the words " in its region or elsewhere " there were substituted the words " in Wales ".

33Reports by medical practitioners etc.

(1)For the purposes of any provision of Part V of the principal Act or of this Part of this Act under which a court may act on the written evidence of—

(a)a medical practitioner or a medical practitioner of any description; or

(b)a person representing the managers of a hospital,

a report in writing purporting to be signed by a medical practitioner or a medical practitioner of such a description or by a person representing the managers of a hospital may, subject to the provisions of this section, be received in evidence without proof of the signature of the practitioner or that person and without proof that he has the requisite qualifications or authority or is of the requisite description; but the court may require the signatory of any such report to be called to give oral evidence.

(2)Where, in pursuance of a direction of the court, any such report is tendered in evidence otherwise than by or on behalf of the person who is the subject of the report, then—

(a)if that person is represented by counsel or a solicitor, a copy of the report shall be given to his counsel or solicitor;

(b)if that person is not so represented, the substance of the report shall be disclosed to him or, where he is a child or young person, to his parent or guardian if present in court; and

(c)except where the report relates only to arrangements for his admission to a hospital, that person may require the signatory of the report to be called to give oral evidence, and evidence to rebut the evidence contained in the report may be called by or on behalf of that person.

Mental condition of persons accused of murder

34Amendments of Bail Act 1976 etc.

(1)The [1976 c. 63.] Bail Act 1976 shall be amended in accordance with subsections (2) to (4) below.

(2)After subsection (6) of section 3 (conditions of bail) there shall be inserted—

(6A)In the case of a person accused of murder the court granting bail shall, unless it considers that satisfactory reports on his mental condition have already been obtained, impose as conditions of bail—

(a)a requirement that the accused shall undergo examination by two medical practitioners for the purpose of enabling such reports to be prepared; and

(b)a requirement that he shall for that purpose attend such an institution or place as the court directs and comply with any other directions which may be given to him for that purpose by either of those practitioners.

(6B)Of the medical practitioners referred to in subsection (6A) above at least one shall be a practitioner approved for the purposes of section 28 of the Mental Health Act 1959.

(3)In subsection (7) of that section (obligations of parent or guardian in respect of conditions of bail) for the words " subsection (6) above " there shall be substituted the words " subsection (6) or (6A) above ".

(4)In paragraph 8(3) of Schedule 1 (exceptions from restriction of conditions of bail) after the words " shall not" there shall be inserted the words " apply to the conditions required to be imposed under section 3(6A) of this Act or ".

(5)Without prejudice to its powers under section 3 of the [1973 c. 14.] Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1973, the Crown Court may order the payment out of central funds of such sums as appear to it reasonably sufficient to compensate any medical practitioner for the expenses, trouble or loss of time properly incurred by him in preparing and making a report to the court on the mental condition of a person accused of murder.

PART IVRemoval of Patients to and from the United Kingdom

35Removal of alien patients etc.

(1)Section 90 of the principal Act (removal of alien patients etc.) shall not apply to any patient unless he is detained pursuant to—

(a)an application under section 26 of the principal Act or section 12 of the [1961 c. 15 (N.I.).] Mental Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1961;

(b)a hospital order under section 60 of the principal Act or section 48 of the said Act of 1961; or

(c)an order or direction under either of those Acts having the like effect as such a hospital order.

(2)The Secretary of State shall not exercise his powers under the said section 90 in the case of any patient except with the approval of a Mental Health Review Tribunal or, as the case may be, of the Mental Health Review Tribunal for Northern Ireland.

(3)Where the Secretary of State exercises his powers under the said section 90 in respect of a patient who is detained pursuant to a hospital order under section 60 of the principal Act and in respect of whom a restriction order is in force, those orders shall, notwithstanding section 95 of that Act, continue in force so as to apply to the patient if he returns to England and Wales at any time before the end of the period for which those orders would have continued in force.

(4)In paragraph (b) of the said section 90 for the words " a mental hospital or institution within the meaning of the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Act 1948 " there shall be substituted the words " a hospital within the meaning of the Mental Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1961 ".

36Removal of patients to Channel Islands or Isle of Man

If it appears to the Secretary of State, in the case of a patient who is for the time being liable to be detained or subject to guardianship under the principal Act, that it is in the interests of the patient to remove him to any of the Channel Islands or to the Isle of Man, and that arrangements have been made for admitting him to a hospital or, as the case may be, for receiving him into guardianship there, the Secretary of State may authorise his removal to the island in question and may give any necessary directions for his conveyance to his destination.

37Patients removed from Channel Islands or Isle of Man

(1)This section applies to any patient who is removed to England and Wales from any of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man under a provision corresponding to section 36 above and who immediately before his removal was liable to be detained or subject to guardianship in the island in question under a provision corresponding to an enactment contained in the principal Act.

(2)Where the patient is admitted to a hospital in England and Wales he shall be treated as if on the date of his admission he had been so admitted in pursuance of an application made, or an order or direction made or given, on that date under the corresponding enactment contained in the principal Act and, where he is subject to an order or direction restricting his discharge, as if he were subject to a restriction order or restriction direction.

(3)Where the patient is received into guardianship in England and Wales, he shall be treated as if on the date on which he arrives at the place where he is to reside he had been so received in pursuance of an application, order or direction under the corresponding enactment contained in the principal Act and as if the application had been accepted or, as the case may be, the order or direction had been made or given on that date.

(4)Where the patient was immediately before his removal liable to be detained by virtue of a transfer direction given while he was serving a sentence of imprisonment imposed by a court in the island in question, he shall be treated as if the sentence had been imposed by a court in England and Wales.

(5)Where the patient was immediately before his removal subject to an order or direction restricting his discharge, being an order or direction of limited duration, the restriction order or restriction direction to which he is subject by virtue of subsection (2) above shall expire on the date on which the first-mentioned order or direction would have expired if he had not been removed.

(6)While being conveyed to the hospital referred to in subsection (2) or, as the case may be, the place referred to in subsection (3) above, the patient shall be deemed to be in legal custody, and section 140 of the principal Act (retaking of patients escaping from custody) shall apply to him as if he were in legal custody by virtue of section 139 of that Act.

(7)In the case of a patient removed from the Isle of Man the reference in subsection (4) above to a person serving a sentence of imprisonment includes a reference to a person detained as mentioned in section 60 (6) (a) of the Mental Health Act 1974 (an Act of Tynwald).

38Patients absconding from hospital in Channel Islands or Isle of Man

Any person (other than a person subject to guardianship) who under any provision corresponding to section 40 or 140 of the principal Act may be taken into custody in any of the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, may be taken into custody in, and returned to the island in question from, England and Wales by a mental welfare officer or constable.

PART VMental Health Review Tribunals

39Powers and procedure of tribunals

(1)At the end of section 122(2) of the principal Act (which provides that where a person is authorised to make an application within a specified period not more than one such application shall be made by him within that period) there shall be added the words " but for that purpose there shall be disregarded any application which is withdrawn in accordance with rules made under section 124 of this Act. "

(2)In section 123(1) of the principal Act (cases in which tribunal is to direct discharge of patient) for the words from "and shall so direct" onwards there shall be substituted the words and—

(a)the tribunal shall direct the discharge of a patient liable to be detained under section 25 of this Act if they are satisfied—

(i)that he is not then suffering from mental disorder or from mental disorder of a nature or degree which warrants his detention in a hospital for assessment (or for assessment followed by medical treatment) for at least a limited period ; or

(ii)that his detention as aforesaid is not justified in the interests of his own health or safety or with a view to the protection of other persons ;

(b)the tribunal shall direct the discharge of a patient liable to be detained otherwise than under section 25 of this Act if they are satisfied—

(i)that he is not then suffering from mental illness, psychopathic disorder, mental impairment or severe mental impairment or from any of those forms of disorder of a nature or degree which makes it appropriate for him to be liable to be detained in a hospital for medical treatment; or

(ii)that it is not necessary for the health or safety of the patient or for the protection of other persons that he should receive such treatment; or

(iii)in the case of an application under section 48(3) of this Act, that the patient, if released, would not be likely to act in a manner dangerous to other persons or to himself.

(3)After section 123(1) of the principal Act there shall be inserted—

(1A)In determining whether to direct the discharge of a patient detained otherwise than under section 25 of this Act in a case not falling within paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section, the tribunal shall have regard—

(a)to the likelihood of medical treatment alleviating or preventing a deterioration of the patient's condition ; and

(b)in the case of a patient suffering from mental illness or severe mental impairment, to the likelihood of the patient, if discharged, being able to care for himself, to obtain the care he needs or to guard himself against serious exploitation.

(1B)A tribunal may under subsection (1) of this section direct the discharge of a patient on a future date specified in the direction; and where a tribunal do not direct the discharge of a patient under that subsection the tribunal may—

(a)with a view to facilitating his discharge on a future date, recommend that he be granted leave of absence or transferred to another hospital or into guardianship; and

(b)further consider his case in the event of any such recommendation not being complied with.

(4)In section 123(2)(b) of the principal Act (discharge of patient subject to guardianship) for the words " the interests of the patient" there shall be substituted the words " the interests of the welfare of the patient ".

(5)In section 124(2) of the principal Act (matters capable of being dealt with by rules) after paragraph (j) there shall be inserted—

(k)for enabling any functions of a tribunal which relate to matters preliminary or incidental to an application to be performed by the chairman of the tribunal.

(6)Any functions conferred on the chairman of a Mental Health Review Tribunal by rules under section 124 of the principal Act may, if for any reason he is unable to act, be exercised by another member of that Tribunal appointed by him for the purpose.

(7)A Mental Health Review Tribunal may pay allowances in respect of travelling expenses, subsistence and loss of earnings to any person attending the tribunal as an applicant or witness, to the patient who is the subject of the proceedings if he attends' otherwise than as the applicant or a witness and to any person (other than counsel or a solicitor) who attends as the representative of an applicant.

40Duty of managers of hospitals to refer cases to tribunal

(1)Where—

(a)a patient who is admitted to a hospital in pursuance of an application for admission for treatment does not exercise his right to apply to a Mental Health Review Tribunal under section 31(4) of the principal Act; or

(b)a patient who is transferred from guardianship to hospital does not exercise his right to apply to such a tribunal under section 41(5) of that Act,

the managers of the hospital shall at the expiration of the period for making such an application refer the patient's case to such a tribunal unless an application or reference in respect of the patient has then been made under section 38(2), 48(3), 52(6) or 57 of the principal Act.

(2)If the authority for the detention of a patient in a hospital is renewed under section 43 of the principal Act and a period of three years (or, if the patient has not attained the age of sixteen years, one year) has elapsed since his case was last considered by a Mental Health Review Tribunal, whether on his own application or otherwise, the managers of the hospital shall refer his case to such a tribunal.

(3)For the purpose of furnishing information for the purposes of any reference under this section, any medical practitioner authorised by or on behalf of the patient may at any reasonable time visit and examine the patient in private and require the production of and inspect any records relating to the detention or treatment of the patient in any hospital.

(4)The Secretary of State may by order vary the length of the periods mentioned in subsection (2) above.

(5)For the purposes of subsection (1) above a person who applies to a tribunal but subsequently withdraws his application shall be treated as not having exercised his right to apply, and where a person withdraws his application on a date after the expiration of the period mentioned in that subsection the managers shall refer his case as soon as possible after that date.

(6)References in this section to a hospital shall be construed as references to a hospital within the meaning of Part IV of the principal Act.

41Applications to tribunal by patients under the age of sixteen

(1)A patient who has not attained the age of sixteen years shall have the same rights under the provisions of the principal Act mentioned in subsection (2) below (applications to Mental Health Review Tribunal) as a person who has attained that age.

(2)The provisions referred to in subsection (1) above are sections 31(4), 38(2), 43(6) and 63(4)(a).

PART VIConsent to Treatment

42Preliminary

(1)This Part of this Act applies to any patient liable to be detained under the principal Act or this Act except—

(a)a patient who is liable to be detained by virtue of an emergency application and in respect of whom the second medical recommendation referred to in section 29 (3) (a) of the principal Act has not been given and received;

(b)a patient who is liable to be detained by virtue of section 30(2) or (4), 64(1), 135 or 136 of that Act or by virtue of section 29 above ; and

(c)a patient who has been conditionally discharged under section 66(2) of that Act or paragraph 5 or 6 of Schedule 1 to this Act and has not been recalled to hospital.

(2)In this Part of this Act " the responsible medical officer " means the medical practitioner in charge of the treatment of the patient in question and " hospital " includes a mental nursing home.

(3)Any certificate for the purposes of this Part of this Act shall be in such form as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State.

43Treatment requiring consent and a second opinion

(1)This section applies to the following forms of medical treatment for mental disorder—

(a)any surgical operation for destroying brain tissue or for destroying the functioning of brain tissue ; and

(b)such other forms of treatment as may be specified for the purposes of this section by regulations made by the Secretary of State.

(2)Subject to section 48 below, a patient shall not be given any form of treatment to which this section applies unless he has consented to it and—

(a)a medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of this Part of this Act by the Secretary of State (not being the responsible medical officer) and two other persons appointed for the purposes of this paragraph by the Secretary of State (not being medical practitioners) have certified in writing that the patient is capable of understanding the nature, purpose and likely effects of the treatment in question and has consented to it; and

(b)the medical practitioner referred to in paragraph (a) above has certified in writing that, having regard to the likelihood of the treatment alleviating or preventing a deterioration of the patient's condition, the treatment should be given.

(3)Before giving a certificate under subsection (2)(b) above the medical practitioner concerned shall consult two other persons who have been professionally concerned with the patient's medical treatment, and of those persons one shall be a nurse and the other shall be neither a nurse nor a medical practitioner.

(4)Before making any regulations for the purposes of this section the Secretary of State shall consult such bodies as appear to him to be concerned.

44Treatment requiring consent or a second opinion

(1)This section applies to the following forms of medical treatment for mental disorder—

(a)such forms of treatment as may be specified for the purposes of this section by regulations made by the Secretary of State ; and

(b)the administration of medicine to a patient by any means (not being a form of treatment specified under paragraph (a) above or section 43 above) at any time during a period for which he is liable to be detained as a patient to whom this Part of this Act applies if three months or more have elapsed since the first occasion in that period when medicine was administered to him by any means for his mental disorder.

(2)The Secretary of State may by order vary the length of the period mentioned in subsection (1)(b) above.

(3)Subject to section 48 below, a patient shall not be given any form of treatment to which this section applies unless—

(a)he has consented to that treatment and either the responsible medical officer or a medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of this Part of this Act by the Secretary of State has certified in writing that the patient is capable of understanding its nature, purpose and likely effects and has consented to it; or

(b)a medical practitioner appointed as aforesaid (not being the responsible medical officer) has certified in writing that the patient is not capable of understanding the nature, purpose and likely effects of that treatment or has not consented to it but that, having regard to the likelihood of its alleviating or preventing a deterioration of his condition, the treatment should be given.

(4)Before giving a certificate under subsection (3)(b) above the medical practitioner concerned shall consult two other persons who have been professionally concerned with the patient's medical treatment, and of those persons one shall be a nurse and the other shall be neither a nurse nor a medical practitioner.

(5)Before making any regulations for the purposes of this section the Secretary of State shall consult such bodies as appear to him to be concerned.

45Plans of treatment

Any consent or certificate under section 43 or 44 above may relate to a plan of treatment under which the patient is to be given (whether within a specified period or otherwise) one or more of the forms of treatment to which that section applies.

46Withdrawal of consent

(1)Where the consent of a patient to any treatment has been given for the purposes of section 43 or 44 above, the patient may, subject to section 48 below, at any time before the completion of the treatment withdraw his consent, and those sections shall then apply as if the remainder of the treatment were a separate form of treatment.

(2)Without prejudice to the application of subsection (1) above to any treatment given under a plan of treatment to which a patient has consented, a patient who has consented to such a plan may, subject to section 48 below, at any time withdraw his consent to further treatment, or to further treatment of any description, under the plan.

47Review of treatment

(1)Where a patient is given treatment in accordance with section 43(2) or 44(3) (b) above a report on the treatment and the patient's condition shall be given by the responsible medical officer to the Secretary of State—

(a)on the next occasion on which the responsible medical officer furnishes a report in respect of the patient under section 43(3) of the principal Act (renewal of authority for detention); and

(b)at any other time if so required by the Secretary of State.

(2)In relation to a patient who is subject to a restriction order or restriction direction subsection (1) above shall have effect as if paragraph (a) required the report to be made—

(a)in the case of treatment in the period of six months beginning with the date of the order or direction, at the end of that period ;

(b)in the case of treatment at any subsequent time, on the next occasion on which the responsible medical officer makes a report in respect of the patient under section 28(3) above.

(3)The Secretary of State may at any time give a notice to the responsible medical officer directing that, subject to section 48 below, a certificate given in respect of a patient under section 43(2) or 44(3)(b) above shall not apply to treatment given to him after a date specified in the notice and sections 43 and 44 above shall then apply to any such treatment as if that certificate had not been given.

48Urgent treatment

(1)Sections 43 and 44 above shall not apply to any treatment—

(a)which is immediately necessary to save the patient's life; or

(b)which (not being irreversible) is immediately necessary to prevent a serious deterioration of his condition ; or

(c)which (not being irreversible or hazardous) is immediately necessary to alleviate serious suffering by the patient; or

(d)which (not being irreversible or hazardous) is immediately necessary and represents the minimum interference necessary to prevent the patient from behaving violently or being a danger to himself or to others.

(2)Sections 46 and 47(3) above shall not preclude the continuation of any treatment or of treatment under any plan pending compliance with section 43 or 44 above if the responsible medical officer considers that the discontinuance of the treatment or of treatment under the plan would cause serious suffering to the patient.

(3)For the purposes of this section treatment is irreversible if it has unfavourable irreversible physical or psychological consequences and hazardous if it entails significant physical hazard.

49Treatment not requiring consent

The consent of a patient shall not be required for any medical treatment given to him for the mental disorder from which he is suffering, not being treatment falling within section 43 or 44 above, if the treatment is given by or under the direction of the responsible medical officer.

50Extension of section 43 and related provisions to voluntary patients

Sections 43, 45, 46 and 48 above shall apply to any patient who is not liable to be detained under the principal Act or this Act.

PART VIIMiscellaneous and Supplementary

51After-care

(1)This section applies to persons who, having been detained under section 26 of the principal Act, or having been admitted to a hospital in pursuance of a hospital order made under section 60 of the principal Act, or having been transferred to a hospital in pursuance of a transfer direction given under section 72 or 73 of the principal Act, cease to be detained and leave hospital.

(2)It shall be the duty of the District Health Authority and of the local social services authority to provide, in co-operation with relevant voluntary agencies, after-care services for any person to whom this section applies.

(3)The duty laid down by subsection (2) above shall continue until the District Health Authority and the local social services authority are satisfied that the person concerned is no longer in need of such services.

(4)In this section " the District Health Authority " means the District Health Authority for the District, and " the local social services authority " means the local social services authority for the area, in which the person concerned is resident or to which he is sent on discharge by the hospital in which he was detained.

52Correspondence of patients

(1)A postal packet addressed to any person by a patient detained in a hospital under the principal Act or this Act and delivered by the patient for despatch may be withheld from the Post Office—

(a)if that person has requested that communications addressed to him by the patient should be withheld ; or

(b)subject to subsection (3) below, if the hospital is a special hospital and the managers of the hospital consider that the postal packet is likely—

(i)to cause distress to the person to whom it is addressed or to any other person (not being a person on the staff of the hospital); or

(ii)to cause danger to any person ;

and any request for the purposes of paragraph (a) above shall be made by a notice in writing given to the managers of the hospital, the medical practitioner in charge of the treatment of the patient or the Secretary of State.

(2)Subject to subsection (3) below, a postal packet addressed to a patient detained in a special hospital under the principal Act or this Act may be withheld from the patient if, in the opinion of the managers of the hospital, it is necessary to do so in the interests of the safety of the patient or for the protection of other persons.

(3)Subsections (1)(b) and (2) above do not apply to any postal packet addressed by a patient to, or sent to a patient by or on behalf of—

(a)any Minister of the Crown or Member of either House of Parliament;

(b)the Master or Deputy Master or any other officer of the Court of Protection or any of the Lord Chancellor's Visitors;

(c)the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, the Health Service Commissioner for England, the Health Service Commissioner for Wales or a Local Commissioner within the meaning of Part III of the [1974 c. 7.] Local Government Act 1974;

(d)a Mental Health Review Tribunal;

(e)a health authority within the meaning of the [1977 c. 49.] National Health Service Act 1977, a local social services authority, a Community Health Council or a probation and after-care committee appointed under paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 to the [1973 c. 62.] Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973 ;

(f)the managers of the hospital in which the patient is detained;

(g)any legally qualified person instructed by the patient to act as his legal adviser ; or

(h)the European Commission of Human Rights or the European Court of Human Rights.

(4)The managers of a hospital may inspect and open any postal packet for the purposes of determining whether it is one to which subsection (1) or (2) above applies and, if so, for determining whether or not it should be withheld under that subsection ; and the power to withhold a postal packet under either of those subsections includes power to withhold anything contained in it.

(5)Where a postal packet or anything contained in it is withheld under subsection (1) or (2) above the managers of the hospital shall record that fact in writing.

(6)Where a postal packet or anything contained in it is withheld under subsection (1)(b) or (2) above the managers of the hospital shall within seven days give notice of that fact to the patient and, in a case under subsection (2) above, to the person (if known) by whom the postal packet was sent; and any such notice shall be in writing and shall contain a statement of the effect of section 56(7) and (8) below.

(7)The functions of the managers of a hospital under this section shall be discharged on their behalf by a person on the staff of the hospital appointed by them for that purpose, and Afferent persons may be appointed to discharge different functions.

(8)The Secretary of State may make regulations with respect to the exercise of the powers conferred by this section.

(9)In this section " postal packet" has the same meaning as in the [1953 c. 36.] Post Office Act 1953 and the provisions of this section shall have effect notwithstanding anything in section 56 of that Act.

(10)References in this section to a hospital shall be construed as references to a hospital within the meaning of Part IV of the principal Act.

(11)Section 36 of the principal Act (which is superseded by this section) and section 134 of that Act (restriction on correspondence of patients not subject to detention) shall cease to have effect.

53Code of practice

(1)The Secretary of State shall prepare, and from time to time revise, a code of practice—

(a)for the guidance of medical practitioners, managers and staff of hospitals and mental nursing homes and mental welfare officers in relation to the admission of patients to hospitals and mental nursing homes under the principal Act or this Act; and

(b)for the guidance of medical practitioners and members of other professions in relation to the medical treatment of patients suffering from mental disorder.

(2)The code shall, in particular, specify forms of medical treatment, in addition to any specified by regulations made for the purposes of section 43 above, which in the opinion of the Secretary of State give rise to special concern and should accordingly not be given by a medical practitioner unless the patient has consented to the treatment (or to a plan of treatment including that treatment) and a certificate in writing as to the matters mentioned in subsection (2)(a) and (b) of that section has been given by another medical practitioner, being a practitioner appointed for the purposes of this section by the Secretary of State.

(3)Before preparing the code or making any alteration in it the Secretary of State shall consult such bodies as appear to him to be concerned.

(4)The Secretary of State shall lay copies of the code and of any alteration in the code before Parliament; and if either House of Parliament passes a resolution requiring the code or any alteration in it to be withdrawn the Secretary of State shall withdraw the code or alteration and, where he withdraws the code, shall prepare a code in substitution for the one which is withdrawn.

(5)No resolution shall be passed by either House of Parliament under subsection (4) above in respect of a code or alteration after the expiration of the period of forty days beginning with the day on which a copy of the code or alteration was laid before that House; but for the purposes of this subsection no account shall be taken of any time during which Parliament is dissolved or prorogued or during which both Houses are adjourned for more than four days.

(6)The Secretary of State shall publish the code as for the time being in force.

54Practitioners approved for purposes of Part VI and s. 53

(1)The Secretary of State may make such provision as he may with the approval of the Treasury determine for the payment of remuneration, allowances, pensions or gratuities to or in respect of medical practitioners appointed by him for the purposes of Part VI of this Act and section 53 above and to or in respect of other persons appointed for the purposes of section 43(2)(a) above.

(2)A medical practitioner or other person appointed by the Secretary of State for the purposes of the provisions mentioned in subsection (1) above may, for the purpose of exercising his functions under those provisions, at any reasonable time—

(a)visit and interview and, in the case of a medical practitioner, examine in private any patient detained in a mental nursing home ; and

(b)require the production of and inspect any records relating to the treatment of the patient in that home.

55General protection of detained patients

(1)The Secretary of State shall keep under review the exercise of the powers and the discharge of the duties conferred or imposed by the principal Act and this Act so far as relating to the detention of patients or to patients liable to be detained under those Acts and shall make arrangements for persons authorised by him in that behalf—

(a)to visit and interview in private patients detained under those Acts in hospitals and mental nursing homes ; and

(b)to investigate—

(i)any complaint made by a person in respect of a matter that occurred while he was detained under those Acts in a hospital or mental nursing home and which he considers has not been satisfactorily dealt with by the managers of that hospital or mental nursing home; and

(ii)any other complaint as to the exercise of the powers or the discharge of the duties conferred or imposed by those Acts in respect of a person who is or has been so detained.

(2)The arrangements made under this section in respect of the investigation of complaints may exclude matters from investigation in specified circumstances and shall not require any person exercising functions under the arrangements to undertake or continue with any investigation where he does not consider it appropriate to do so.

(3)Where any such complaint as is mentioned in subsection (1)(b)(ii) above is made by a Member of Parliament and investigated under the arrangements made under this section the results of the investigation shall be reported to him.

(4)For the purpose of any such review as is mentioned in subsection (1) above or of carrying out his functions under arrangements made under this section any person authorised in that behalf by the Secretary of State may at any reasonable time—

(a)visit and interview and, if he is a medical practitioner, examine in private any patient in a mental nursing home; and

(b)require the production of and inspect any records relating to the detention or treatment of any person who is or has been detained in a mental nursing home.

(5)The matters in respect of which regulations may be made under section 6 of the [1975 c. 37.] Nursing Homes Act 1975 shall include the keeping of records relating to the detention and treatment of persons detained under the principal Act or this Act in a mental nursing home.

(6)The Secretary of State may make such provision as he may with the approval of the Treasury determine for the payment of remuneration, allowances, pensions or gratuities to or in respect of persons exercising functions in relation to any such review as is mentioned in subsection (1) above or functions under arrangements made under this section.

(7)The powers and duties referred to in subsection (1) above do not include any power or duty conferred or imposed by Part VIII of the principal Act.

56Mental Health Act Commission

(1)The Secretary of State shall under section 11 of the [1977 c. 49.] National Health Service Act 1977 establish a special health authority to be known as the Mental Health Act Commission.

(2)Without prejudice to the generality of his powers under section 13 of that Act, the Secretary of State shall direct the Commission to perform on his behalf—

(a)the function of appointing medical practitioners for the purposes of Part VI of this Act and section 53 above and of appointing other persons for the purposes of section 43(2)(a) above; and

(b)the functions of the Secretary of State under sections 47 and 55(1) and (4) above.

(3)The medical practitioners and other persons appointed for the purposes mentioned in subsection (2) (a) above may include members of the Commission.

(4)The Secretary of State may, at the request of or after consultation with the Commission and after consulting such other bodies as appear to him to be concerned, direct the Commission to keep under review the care and treatment, or any aspect of the care and treatment, in hospitals and mental nursing homes of patients who are not liable to be detained under the principal Act or this Act.

(5)For the purpose of any such review as is mentioned in subsection (4) above any person authorised in that behalf by the Commission may at any reasonable time—

(a)visit and interview and, if he is a medical practitioner, examine in private any patient in a mental nursing home; and

(b)require the production of and inspect any records relating to the treatment of any person who is or has been a patient in a mental nursing home.

(6)The Secretary of State may make such provision as he may with the approval of the Treasury determine for the payment of remuneration, allowances, pensions or gratuities to or in respect of persons exercising functions in relation to any such review as is mentioned in subsection (4) above.

(7)The Commission shall review any decision to withhold a postal packet (or anything contained in it) under subsection (1)(b) or (2) of section 52 above if an application in that behalf is made—

(a)in a case under subsection (1)(b), by the patient; or

(b)in a case under subsection (2), either by the patient or by the person by whom the postal packet was sent;

and any such application shall be made within six months of the receipt by the applicant of the notice referred to in subsection (6) of that section.

(8)On an application under subsection (7) above the Commission may direct that the postal packet which is the subject of the application (or anything contained in it) shall not be withheld and the managers in question shall comply with any such direction.

(9)The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision with respect to the making and determination of applications under subsection (7) above, including provision for the production to the Commission of any postal packet which is the subject of such an application.

(10)The Commission shall in the second year after its establishment and subsequently in every second year publish a report on its activities ; and copies of every such report shall be sent by the Commission to the Secretary of State who shall lay a copy before each House of Parliament.

(11)Paragraph 9 of Schedule 5 to the said Act of 1977 (pay and allowances for chairman and members of health authorities) shall have effect in relation to the authority established pursuant to this section as if references in sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) to the chairman included references to any member and as if sub-paragraphs (4) and (5) were omitted.

57Duty of managers of hospitals to give information to detained patients

(1)The managers of a hospital or mental nursing home in which a patient is detained under the principal Act or this Act shall take such steps as are practicable to ensure that the patient understands—

(a)under which of the provisions of those Acts he is for the time being detained and the effect of that provision; and

(b)what rights of applying to a Mental Health Review Tribunal are available to him in respect of his detention under that provision;

and those steps shall be taken as soon as practicable after the commencement of the patient's detention under the provision in question.

(2)The managers of a hospital or mental nursing home in which a patient is detained as aforesaid shall also take such steps as are practicable to ensure that the patient understands the effect, so far as relevant in his case, of—

(a)sections 47 and 48 of the principal Act (discharge by responsible medical officer, managers, nearest relative etc.); and

(b)Part VI of this Act and sections 52, 53 and 55 above ;

and those steps shall be taken as soon as practicable after the commencement of the patient's detention in the hospital or nursing home.

(3)The steps to be taken under subsections (1) and (2) above shall include giving the requisite information both orally and in writing.

(4)The managers of a hospital or mental nursing home in which a patient is detained as aforesaid shall, except where the patient otherwise requests, take such steps as are practicable to furnish the person (if any) appearing to them to be his nearest relative with a copy of any information given to him in writing under subsections (1) and (2) above; and those steps shall be taken when the information is given to the patient or within a reasonable time thereafter.

(5)Section 52(5) of the principal Act (effect of order substituting acting nearest relative) shall have effect as if subsection (4) above were contained in Part IV of that Act.

58Duty of managers of hospitals to inform nearest relative of discharge of detained patient

(1)Where a patient liable to be detained under the principal Act or this Act in a hospital or mental nursing home is to be discharged otherwise than by virtue of an order for discharge made by his nearest relative, the managers of the hospital or mental nursing home shall, subject to subsection (2) below, take such steps as are practicable to inform the person (if any) appearing to them to be the nearest relative of the patient; and that information shall, if practicable, be given at least seven days before the date of discharge.

(2)Subsection (1) above shall not apply if the patient or his nearest relative has requested that information about the patient's discharge should not be given under this section.

(3)Section 52(5) of the principal Act (effect of order substituting acting nearest relative) shall have effect as if this section were contained in Part IV of that Act.

59Management of property and affairs of patients

(1)In section 100(2) of the principal Act (functions of Court of Protection) for the words "the property of persons under disability " there shall be substituted the words " the property and affairs of persons under disability ".

(2)In section 103 of the principal Act there shall be omitted—

(a)in subsection (1)(d) and (dd) (powers not generally exercisable except by the Lord Chancellor or a nominated judge) the words from " so however " onwards ; and

(b)in subsection (3) (settlement of property of an infant) the words from the beginning to " and " where it first occurs.

60Protection for acts done in pursuance of the principal Act and this Act

(1)Section 141 of the principal Act (protection for acts done in pursuance of that Act) shall be amended as follows.

(2)For subsection (2) there shall be substituted—

(2)No civil proceedings shall be brought against any person in any court in respect of any such act without the leave of the High Court; and no criminal proceedings shall be brought against any person in any court in respect of any such act except by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

(3)In subsection (3) for the words "any provision of this Act" there shall be substituted the words " any other provision of this Act ".

(4)After subsection (3) there shall be inserted—

(3A)This section does not apply to proceedings against the Secretary of State or against a health authority within the meaning of the National Health Service Act 1977.

(5)For subsection (4) there shall be substituted—

(4)In relation to Northern Ireland the reference in this section to the Director of Public Prosecutions shall be construed as a reference to the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.

61Replacement of mental welfare officers by approved social workers

(1)After the expiration of the period of two years beginning with the day on which this Act is passed the functions conferred by the principal Act and this Act on mental welfare officers shall be discharged by officers of local social services authorities to be known as approved social workers.

(2)A local social services authority shall appoint a sufficient number of approved social workers for the purpose of discharging the functions referred to in subsection (1) above; and no person shall be appointed as an approved social worker unless he is approved by the authority as having appropriate competence in dealing with persons who are suffering from mental disorder.

(3)In approving a person for appointment as an approved social worker a local social services authority shall have regard to such matters as the Secretary of State may direct.

(4)Any appointment of a person as a mental welfare officer for the purposes of the principal Act and this Act shall terminate at the expiration of the period mentioned in subsection (1) above but without prejudice to anything previously done by that person or to the continuation by an approved social worker of anything which is then in process of being done by that person.

62Electoral registration of patients

(1)In section 4(3) of the [1949 c. 68.] Representation of the People Act 1949 for the words from " who is a patient" to " at any place " there shall be substituted the words " who is detained at any place in legal custody or by virtue of any enactment relating to persons suffering from mental disorder ".

(2)Schedule 2 to this Act shall have effect with respect to electoral registration and voting in the case of voluntary mental patients.

63Definition of hospital and medical treatment

(1)In the definition of "hospital" in section 147(1) of the principal Act for paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) there shall be substituted—

(a)any health service hospital within the meaning of the National Health Service Act 1977 ; and

(b)any accommodation provided by a local authority and used as a hospital by or on behalf of the Secretary of State under that Act;.

(2)In the definition of " medical treatment " in section 147(1) of the principal Act and in the definition of "mental nursing home " in section 2(1) of the [1975 c. 37.] Nursing Homes Act 1975 for the words " care and training under medical supervision " there shall be substituted the words " care, habilitation and rehabilitation under medical supervision ".

64Minor amendments

(1)In section 130(1) of the principal Act (obstruction) for the words " who refuses to allow the inspection of any premises, or without reasonable cause refuses " there shall be substituted the words " who without reasonable cause refuses to allow the inspection of any premises, or refuses ".

(2)The function of appointing medical practitioners under subsection (3) of section 137 of the principal Act (examination of Members of Parliament) shall be exercised by the President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists instead of by the Presidents of the bodies there mentioned and accordingly in that subjection for the words from " appointed as follows " to " Presidents " there shall be substituted the words " appointed by the President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, being practitioners appearing to the President ".

(3)Section 146 of the principal Act (warrants by Secretary of State to be given under the hand of the Secretary of State or an Under Secretary of State) shall cease to have effect.

(4)In section 105(1) of the [1977 c. 49.] National Health Service Act 1977 (payments by local authorities for medical examinations with a view to admission to hospital under Part IV of the principal Act) for the words " the council which is the local authority for the purposes of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 for the area where the person examined resides " there shall be substituted the words " the Secretary of State ".

(5)In paragraph 2(1)(d) of Schedule 8 to the said Act of 1977 (functions of mental welfare officers in relation to persons received into guardianship under Part IV of the principal Act) after the words " Part IV " there shall be inserted the words " or Part V ".

(6)Section 32 of the [1980 c. 43.] Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 (maximum line on summary conviction) shall extend to Northern Ireland so far as it relates to section 129(3)(a) of the principal Act.

65Consequential amendments and repeals

(1)The enactments mentioned in Schedule 3 to this Act shall have effect with the amendments there specified, being amendments consequential on the provisions of this Act.

(2)The enactments mentioned in Schedule 4 to this Act (which include spent provisions) are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule.

66Orders and regulations

(1)Any power of the Secretary of State to make orders or regulations under this Act shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.

(2)Any statutory instrument containing regulations made under this Act shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

(3)No order shall be made under section 40(4) above or paragraph 3(3) of Schedule 1 to this Act unless a draft of it has been approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

67Expenses

There shall be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament—

(a)any expenses incurred by the Secretary of State under this Act; and

(b)any increase attributable to this Act in the sums so payable under any other Act.

68Interpretation and supplementary provisions

(1)In this Act " the principal Act" means the [1959 c. 72.] Mental Health Act 1959.

(2)Sections 56 and 59 of the principal Act (supplementary provisions for Part IV) shall have effect as if section 17 above were contained in Part IV of that Act, section 80 of that Act (interpretation of Part V) shall have effect as if sections 26 to 33 above were contained in Part V of that Act, and sections 94 to 96 of that Act (supplementary provisions for Part VI) shall have effect as if sections 36 and 37 above were contained in Part VI of that Act.

(3)The following provisions of the principal Act, that is to say—

(a)section 4 (definition and classification of mental disorder) ;

(b)section 122 (applications to tribunals);

(c)section 125 (forgery etc. of documents);

(d)section 129 (assisting patients to absent themselves with out leave etc.);

(e)section 130 (penalty for obstruction);

(f)section 135(2) and (4) (warrants to search for and remove patients);

(g)section 139 (custody of patients etc.);

(h)section 141 (protection for acts done in pursuance of the principal Act);

(i)section 142 (default powers);

(j)section 143 (inquiries);

(k)section 147 (general interpretation); and

(l)section 149(3) (power to repeal or amend local enactments),

shall have effect as if the provisions of this Act other than section 62 and Schedule 2 were contained in the principal Act.

69Commencement and transitional provisions

(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, this Act shall come into force on 30th September 1983.

(2)Sections 29, 30 and 31 above shall come into force on such day (not being earlier than the said 30th September) as may be appointed by an order made by the Secretary of State, and a different day may be appointed for each of those sections or for different purposes of any of those sections.

(3)Section 56(1) and (11) above shall come into force on the said 30th September or on such earlier day as may be appointed by an order made by the Secretary of State.

(4)Section 61 above shall come into force as provided in that section and Part II of Schedule 3 and Part II of Schedule 4 to this Act shall come into force at the expiration of the period mentioned in subsection (1) of that section; and at the expiration of that period, the references to a mental welfare officer or mental welfare officers in sections 38 and 53(1)(a) above shall be construed as references to an approved social worker or approved social workers appointed under section 61.

(5)Section 62 above, Schedule 2 to this Act and in Schedule 4 to this Act the repeal in Schedule 7 to the principal Act and the repeals in the [1960 c. 61.] Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1960 and the [1961 c. 15 (N.I.).] Mental Health Act (Northern Ireland) 1961 shall come into force on 1st April 1983.

(6)Schedule 5 to this Act, which contains transitional provisions and savings, shall have effect with respect to the matters there mentioned.

70Short title and extent

(1)This Act may be cited as the Mental Health (Amendment) Act 1982.

(2)Sections 62 and 64(2) above and Schedule 2 to this Act extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland, sections 35(1) and (2) and 64(6) above extend to Northern Ireland and any amendment or repeal by this Act of an enactment which extends to Scotland or Northern Ireland has the same extent as that enactment but, save as aforesaid, this Act extends to England and Wales only.

(3)Section 154(2) of the principal Act (power to extend Act to Isles of Scilly) shall have effect as if the provisions of this Act were contained in that Act.

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