Part IIU.K. Compulsory Admission to Hospital and Guardianship

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

[F1Duration of authority and discharge]U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1S. 20: cross-heading substituted (3.11.2008) by virtue of Mental Health Act 2007 (c. 12), ss. 32(3), 56 (with Sch. 10); S.I. 2008/1900, art. 2(i) (with art. 3, Sch.)

23 Discharge of patients.E+W

(1)Subject to the provisions of this section and section 25 below, a patient who is for the time being liable to be detained or subject to guardianship under this Part of this Act shall cease to be so liable or subject if an order in writing discharging him [F2absolutely from detention or guardianship is made in accordance with this section]

[F3(1A)Subject to the provisions of this section and section 25 below, a community patient shall cease to be liable to recall under this Part of this Act, and the application for admission for treatment cease to have effect, if an order in writing discharging him from such liability is made in accordance with this section.

(1B) An order under subsection (1) or (1A) above shall be referred to in this Act as “ an order for discharge ”. ]

(2)An order for discharge may be made in respect of a patient—

(a)where the patient is liable to be detained in a hospital in pursuance of an application for admission for assessment or for treatment by the [F4responsible clinician] , by the managers or by the nearest relative of the patient;

(b)where the patient is subject to guardianship, by the [F4responsible clinician] , by the responsible local social services authority or by the nearest relative of the patient.

[F5(c)where the patient is a community patient, by the responsible clinician, by the managers of the responsible hospital or by the nearest relative of the patient.]

F6(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F6( 3A ). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4)The powers conferred by this section on any authority [F7trust ][F8, board][F9(other than an NHS foundation trust)] or body of persons may be exercised [F7subject to subsection (5) below] by any three or more members of that authority [F7trust][F8, board] or body authorised by them in that behalf or by three or more members of a committee or sub-committee of that authority [F7trust][F8, board] or body which has been authorised by them in that behalf.

[F10(5)The reference in subsection (4) above to the members of an authority, trust [F11, board] or body or the members of a committee or sub-committee of an authority, trust [F11, board] or body,—

(a)in the case of a [F12Local Health Board] [F13or Special Health Authority] F14... or a committee or sub-committee of a [F12Local Health Board] [F13or Special Health Authority] F14..., is a reference only to the chairman of the authority F15...[F16 or board] and [F17such members (of the authority F15..., board, committee or sub-committee], as the case may be) as are not also officers of the authority F15...[F16 or board], within the meaning of [F18the National Health Service Act 2006 or the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006]; and

(b)in the case of a National Health Service trust or a committee or sub-committee of such a trust, is a reference only to the chairman of the trust and such directors or (in the case of a committee or sub-committee) members as are not also employees of the trust.]

[F19(6) The powers conferred by this section on any NHS foundation trust may be exercised by any three or more [F20 persons authorised by the board of the trust in that behalf each of whom is neither an executive director of the board nor an employee of the trust. ] . ]

Textual Amendments

F2Words in s. 23(1) substituted (3.11.2008) by Mental Health Act 2007 (c. 12), ss. 32, 56, Sch. 3 para. 10(2) (with Sch. 10); S.I. 2008/1900, art. 2(i) (with art. 3, Sch.)

F3S. 23(1A)(1B) inserted (3.11.2008) by Mental Health Act 2007 (c. 12), ss. 32, 56, Sch. 3 para. 10(3) (with Sch. 10); S.I. 2008/1900, art. 2(i) (with art. 3, Sch.)

F4Words in s. 23(2)(a)(b) substituted (3.11.2008) by Mental Health Act 2007 (c. 12), ss. 9(6), 56 (with Sch. 10); S.I. 2008/1900, art. 2(b) (with art. 3, Sch.)

F6S. 23(3)(3A) omitted (1.7.2012) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), ss. 39(1), 306(4); S.I. 2012/1319, art. 2(3)

F8Words in s. 23(4) inserted (1.4.2007) by The References to Health Authorities Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/961, art. 3, Sch. para. 13(2)(b)

F11Words in s. 23(5) inserted (1.4.2007) by The References to Health Authorities Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/961, art. 3, Sch. para. 13(2)(c)

F12Words in s. 23(5)(a) substituted (1.4.2007) by The References to Health Authorities Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/961, art. 3, Sch. para. 13(2)(d)(i)

F14Words in s. 23(5)(a) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), s. 306(4), Sch. 5 para. 26(b); S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-9)

F15Word in s. 23(5)(a) omitted (1.4.2013) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), s. 306(4), Sch. 5 para. 26(c); S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-9)

F16Words in s. 23(5)(a) substituted (1.4.2007) by The References to Health Authorities Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/961, art. 3, Sch. para. 13(2)(d)(ii)

F17Words in s. 23(5)(a) substituted (1.4.2007) by virtue of The References to Health Authorities Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/961), art. 3, Sch. para. 13(2)(d)(iii)

F20Words in s. 23(6) substituted (24.7.2007) by Mental Health Act 2007 (c. 12), ss. 45(1), 56 (with Sch. 10); S.I. 2007/2156, art. 2