Mental Health Act 1983

Changes over time for: Section 23

Alternative versions:

Changes to legislation:

Mental Health Act 1983, Section 23 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 26 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Act applied by 1996 c. 46 Sch. 2 para. 9(replacing1968 c 20 s. 23) (Act applied (prosp.) by 1968 c. 20, s. 23(4) (as substituted (prosp.) by 1996 c. 46, ss. 8, 36(2), Sch. 2, para. 9 which said amending provision was repealed (31.3.2005) by Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (c. 28), ss. 58(2), 60, Sch. 11; S.I. 2005/579, art. 3(h)(i)(ix)))
Act applied by 1996 c. 46 Sch. 2 para. 4(replacing1957 c 53 s. 63) (Act applied (prosp.) by 1957 c. 53, s. 63C(6) (as substituted (prosp.) by 1996 c. 46, ss. 8, 36(2), Sch. 2, para. 4 which said amending provision was repealed (31.3.2005) by Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (c. 28), ss. 58(2), 60, Sch. 11; S.I. 2005/579, art. 3(h)(i)(ix)))
Act applied by 1996 c. 46 Sch. 2 para. 1(replacing1955 c 19 s. 116) (Act applied (prosp.) by 1955 c. 19, s. 116C(6) (as substituted (prosp.) by 1996 c. 46, ss. 8, 36(2), Sch. 2 para. 1 which said amending provision was repealed (31.3.2005) by Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (c. 28), ss. 58(2), 60, Sch. 11; S.I. 2005/579, art. 3(h)(i)(ix))
Act applied by 1996 c. 46 Sch. 2 para. 1(replacing1955 c 18 s 116) (Act applied (prosp.) by 1955 c. 18, s. 116C(6) (as substituted (prosp.) by 1996 c. 46, ss. 8, 36(2), Sch. 2 para. 1 which said amending provision was repealed (31.3.2005) by Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (c. 28), ss. 58(2), 60, Sch. 11; S.I. 2005/579, art. 3(h)(i)(ix)))
Act power to applied by 1996 c. 46 Sch. 2 para. 4(replacing1957 c 53 s. 63) (Act: Power to apply conferred (prosp.) by 1957 c. 53, s. 63B(4)(c) (as substituted (prosp.) by 1996 c. 46, ss. 8, 36(2), Sch. 2, para. 4 which said amending provision was repealed (31.3.2005) by Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (c. 28), ss. 58(2), 60, Sch. 11; S.I. 2005/579, art. 3(h)(i)(ix)))
Act power to applied by 1996 c. 46 Sch. 2 para. 1(replacing1955 c 19 s. 116) (Act: Power to apply conferred (prosp.) by 1955 c. 19, s. 116B(4)(c) (as substituted (prosp.) by 1996 c. 46, ss. 8, 36(2), Sch. 2, para. 1 which said amending provision was repealed (31.3.2005) by Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (c. 28), ss. 58(2), 60, Sch. 11; S.I. 2005/579, art. 3(h)(i)(ix)))
Act power to applied by 1996 c. 46 Sch. 2 para. 1(replacing1955 c 18 s 116) (Act: Power to apply conferred (prosp.) by 1955 c. 18, s. 116B(4)(c) (as substituted (prosp.) by 1996 c. 46, ss. 8, 36(2), Sch. 2 para. 1 which said amending provision was repealed (31.3.2005) by Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 (c. 28), ss. 58(2), 60, Sch. 11; S.I. 2005/579, art. 3(h)(i)(ix)))

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

s. 74(8) inserted by 2015 c. 2 Sch. 3 para. 3(3)

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 [F1absolutely from detention or guardianship is made in accordance with this section]

[F2(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 [F3responsible clinician] , by the managers or by the nearest relative of the patient;

(b)where the patient is subject to guardianship, by the [F3responsible clinician] , by the responsible local social services authority or by the nearest relative of the patient.

[F4(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.]

F5(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5( 3A ). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4)The powers conferred by this section on any authority [F6trust ][F7, board][F8(other than an NHS foundation trust)] or body of persons may be exercised [F6subject to subsection (5) below] by any three or more members of that authority [F6trust][F7, board] or body authorised by them in that behalf or by three or more members of a committee or sub-committee of that authority [F6trust][F7, board] or body which has been authorised by them in that behalf.

[F9(5)The reference in subsection (4) above to the members of an authority, trust [F10, board] or body or the members of a committee or sub-committee of an authority, trust [F10, board] or body,—

(a)in the case of a [F11Local Health Board] [F12or Special Health Authority] F13... or a committee or sub-committee of a [F11Local Health Board] [F12or Special Health Authority] F13..., is a reference only to the chairman of the authority F14...[F15 or board] and [F16such members (of the authority F14..., board, committee or sub-committee], as the case may be) as are not also officers of the authority F14...[F15 or board], within the meaning of [F17the 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.]

[F18(6) The powers conferred by this section on any NHS foundation trust may be exercised by any three or more [F19 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

F1Words 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.)