Section 46: Transfer of patient to suitable hospital
129.In certain situations, it becomes apparent that a person who is subject to an assessment order (AO), treatment order (TO), interim compulsion order (ICO) or temporary compulsion order (TCO) and has been admitted to hospital by virtue of that order, would be more appropriately treated in another hospital.
New section 61A
130.Section 46 of the Act inserts section 61A into the 1995 Act, which gives a person’s responsible medical officer (RMO) the authority to transfer a person subject to an AO, a treatment order, an interim CO, or a temporary compulsion order to a hospital other than that originally specified by the court. Such a transfer can only occur once, and in making the transfer the RMO must be satisfied both that the current hospital is not suitable and that the new hospital is suitable for the purpose for which the order is made. Before carrying out the transfer, the RMO must, as far as practicable, inform the person of the reason for the transfer, notify the managers of the specified hospital and obtain the consent of the managers of the other hospital and the Scottish Ministers. After the transfer, the RMO must notify any solicitor acting for the person, and the court which made the order.
