This could be your partner (if you have one) or a family member. The Mental Health Act gives rights to a patient's “nearest relative”. If you do not follow these conditions, for example you do not return by an agreed time, the police may be asked to bring you back to hospital. If you are given leave, you will be told how much you have, and if you need a nurse or someone else to go with you when you leave the ward (escorted leave). If you are in hospital under section, time off the ward needs to be agreed by your responsible clinician. This is a power which a police officer can use if you were in a public place and they had concerns about your mental health. Some people are brought to hospital under a section 136. If a doctor is not available, a nurse can use section 5(4) to detain you for up to six hours. If you are a voluntary or informal patient and there are serious concerns about your safety a holding section might be used to keep you in hospital.Ī doctor can use section 5(2) to detain you for up to 72 hours while you are assessed for a section 2 or 3. Holding sections – Sections 5(2) and 5(4) SOADs are appointed by the Care Quality Commission These are independent doctors who check your views and wishes have been taken into account, and make sure your treatment is appropriate. Any further extensions last up to a year.Īfter three months under section, if you do not want to take medication (or you are too unwell to decide) a second opinion appointed doctor (SOAD) will visit you on the ward. If it is extended, the first extension lasts up to another six months. To start with, a section 3 lasts up to six months.
Two doctors and an approved mental health professional need to agree before anyone is treated under section 3. Section 3 allows time for treatment to improve your mental health. It lasts up to 28 days.Ī senior doctor or consultant, also known as a “responsible clinician”, will be in charge of your care. Two doctors and an approved mental health professional need to agree before someone is put on section 2.
Section 2 is used to allow time to assess your mental health, and decide what treatment might help. It lasts up to 72 hours and it might be followed by a section 2 or section 3.Īssessment and treatment section – Section 2 Only one doctor is needed for a section 4. Section 4 is used when an approved mental health professional is very concerned about your mental health and needs to act quickly so they can keep you, or others, safe. These are the main sections of the Mental Health Act that are used to keep people in hospital. You should always know which section you are on.
If you are in hospital under a section of the Mental Health Act, a nurse should have given you a rights leaflet and explained what your section means.Īnyone in hospital under section has the right to free and confidential support from an independent mental health advocate.
Download In hospital under section leaflet