Coronavirus Act 2020

Designation of, and admission of persons to, different hospitals in pursuance of hospital orders

14 (1) The Department of Health may designate a different hospital to that which it previously designated under—

(a) Article 46(1) or (3)(a), or

(b) this sub-paragraph,

where the Department considers that the conditions in sub-paragraph (2) are met.

(2) Those conditions are—

(a) that in all the circumstances it is impractical and would involve unreasonable delay for the person who is the subject of the hospital order or interim hospital order to be admitted to the hospital previously designated by it, and

(b) that it would be possible for the person to be admitted sooner to the different hospital.

(3) The power in sub-paragraph (1)(b) may be exercised on more than one occasion where the Department of Health considers that to be expedient.

(4) Where the Department of Health designates a hospital by virtue of sub-paragraph (1)—

(a) the new designation takes the place of the previous designation;

(b) the references in Article 46(2) and (3) (as modified by paragraph 13(1)(b)) to conveying or admitting the person to hospital apply as regards the hospital specified in the new designation and as if the time limits for doing so begin with the date of that designation.