Key definitions

Key definitions
1
1
This section applies for the purposes of this Act.
2
“Mental disorder” has the same meaning as in the Mental Health Act 1983.
3
“Mental health unit” means—
a
a health service hospital, or part of a health service hospital, in England, the purpose of which is to provide treatment to in-patients for mental disorder, or
b
an independent hospital, or part of an independent hospital, in England—
i
the purpose of which is to provide treatment to in-patients for mental disorder, and
ii
where at least some of that treatment is provided, or is intended to be provided, for the purposes of the NHS.
4
In subsection (3)(b)(ii) the reference to treatment provided for the purposes of the NHS is to be read as a service provided for those purposes in accordance with the National Health Service Act 2006.
5
“Patient” means a person who is in a mental health unit for the purpose of treatment for mental disorder or assessment.
6
References to “use of force” are to—
a
the use of physical, mechanical or chemical restraint on a patient, or
b
the isolation of a patient.
7
In subsection (6)—
- “physical restraint” means the use of physical contact which is intended to prevent, restrict or subdue movement of any part of the patient's body;
- “mechanical restraint” means the use of a device which—
  1. is intended to prevent, restrict or subdue movement of any part of the patient's body, and
  2. is for the primary purpose of behavioural control;
- “chemical restraint” means the use of medication which is intended to prevent, restrict or subdue movement of any part of the patient's body;
- “isolation” means any seclusion or segregation that is imposed on a patient.
S. 1 in force at 31.3.2022 by S.I. 2021/1372, reg. 2(a)