Registered Homes Act 1984

35 Inspection of mental nursing homes and visiting of patients

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, any person authorised in that behalf by the Secretary of State may at any time, after producing, if asked to do so, some duly authenticated document showing that he is so authorised, enter and inspect any premises which are used, or which that person has reasonable cause to believe to be used, for the purposes of a mental nursing home, and may inspect any records kept in pursuance of section 27(b) above.

(2) A person authorised under subsection (1) above to inspect a mental nursing home may visit and interview in private any patient residing in the" home who is, or appears to be, suffering from mental disorder—

(a) for the purpose of investigating any complaint as to his treatment made by or on behalf of the patient; or

(b) in any case where the person so authorised has reasonable cause to believe that the patient is not receiving proper care;

and where the person so authorised is a medical practitioner, he may examine the patient in private, and may require the production of, and inspect, any medical records relating to the patient's treatment in that home.

(3) Regulations made under section 26 above may make provision with respect to the exercise on behalf of the Secretary of State of the powers conferred by this section, and may in particular provide—

(a) for imposing conditions or restrictions with respect to the exercise of those powers in relation to mental nursing homes which, immediately before 1st November 1960, were registered hospitals as defined in subsection (4) below, and

(b) subject as aforesaid, for requiring the inspection of mental nursing homes under subsection (1) above to be carried out on such occasions, or at such intervals, as the regulations may prescribe.

(4) In subsection (3)(a) above, " registered hospital" means a hospital registered as mentioned in section 231(9) of the [1890 c. 5.] Lunacy Act 1890.

(5) Any person who refuses to allow the inspection of any premises, or without reasonable cause refuses to allow the visiting, interviewing or examination of any person by a person authorised in that behalf under this section or to produce for the inspection of any person so authorised any document or record the production of which is duly required by him, or otherwise obstructs any such person in the exercise of his functions, shall be guilty of an offence.

(6) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (5) above, any person who insists on being present when requested to withdraw by a person authorised as aforesaid to interview or examine a person in private shall be guilty of an offence.