(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.