Explanatory Notes

Mental Health Act 2007

2007 CHAPTER 12

19 July 2007

Commentary

Part 1 – Amendments to Mental Health Act 1983

Chapter 1 – Changes to Key Provisions
Section 5: Further cases in which appropriate treatment test is to apply

34.Section 5 also adds the appropriate medical treatment test into three other sets of detention criteria in Part 3 of the 1983 Act. They are sections 36 (remand for treatment), 48 (transfer of unsentenced prisoners) and section 51(6) (hospital orders where it is impractical or inappropriate to bring a detainee before the court). These provisions do not at present apply to patients suffering from psychopathic disorder or mental impairment and so they do not include the so-called treatability test. As a result, the appropriate medical treatment test will be an additional requirement in these sections, rather than a replacement for an existing test.