PART IN.I.INTRODUCTORY

Title and commencementN.I.

1.—(1) This Order may be cited as the Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986.

(2) This Order shall come into operation on such day or days as the Head of the Department may by order appointF1.

(3) An order under paragraph (2) may also appoint a day for the coming into operation of any provision of the [S.I. 1986/596] Mental Health (Northern Ireland Consequential Amendments) Order 1986 which appears to the Head of the Department to be consequential on any provision of this Order brought into operation by the order.

[F2Interpretation of Order]N.I.

InterpretationN.I.

2.—(1) The [1954 c. 33 (N.I.)] Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 shall apply to Article 1 and the following provisions of this Order as it applies to a Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

(2) In this Order—

• “absent without leave” has the meaning assigned to it by Article 29(5);

• [F3“the 2016 Act” means the Mental Capacity Act (Northern Ireland) 2016;]

• “application for assessment” has the meaning assigned to it by Article 4(1);

• “the applicant”, in relation to an application for assessment, has the meaning assigned to it by Article 5(1) and, in relation to a guardianship application, has the meaning assigned to it by Article 19(1);

• [F4“approved social worker” means an officer of F5... an authorised [F6HSC trust] appointed to act as an approved social worker for the purposes of this Order;]

• [F3“best interests”: any determination of what would be in the best interests of a patient who is under 16 is to be made in accordance with Article 3B;]

• F7...

• F8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• “date of admission” has the meaning assigned to it by Article 9(3);

• “the Department” means the Department of Health and Social Services;

• “detained for treatment” has the meaning assigned to it by Article 12(5);

• “guardianship application” has the meaning assigned to it by Article 18(1);

• [F4“hospital”, subject to paragraph (2A), means any hospital, institution or special accommodation vested in the Department or in an authorised [F6HSC trust];]

• “hospital order” and “guardianship order” have the meanings respectively assigned by Article 44(1)(a) and (b);

• Definition rep. by 1992 NI 20

• [F4“ [F6HSC trust]” means a [F9Health and Social Care trust]established under the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 and “authorised [F6HSC trust]” shall be construed in accordance with paragraph (2B);]

• [F3“independent advocate” has the same meaning as in Article 3C;]

• “interim hospital order” has the meaning assigned to it by Article 45(1);

• “medical practitioner” means a fully registered person within the meaning of the [1983 c. 54] Medical Act 1983;

• “medical treatment” includes nursing, and also includes care and training under medical supervision;

• “nearest relative”, in relation to a patient, has the meaning assigned to it in Part II;

• “nursing home” has the meaning assigned to it by[F10 Article 11 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003];

• “patient” (except in Part VIII) means a person suffering or appearing to be suffering from mental disorder;

• “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations;

• “private hospital” has the meaning assigned to it by Article 90(2);

• [F11“RQIA” means the Health and Social Care Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority;]

• “regulations” means regulations made by the Department;

• [F10“residential care home” has the meaning assigned to it by Article 10 of the Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003;]

• [F4“responsible authority” means—

  (a)

  [F12 in relation to a patient whose admission to a hospital is being sought or who is in, or is liable to be detained in, a hospital, the authorised HSC trust in which the hospital is vested;

  (b)

  in relation to a patient who is the subject of a guardianship application or is subject to guardianship under this Order, the authorised HSC trust in whose area the patient resides.]]

• “responsible medical officer” means—

  (a)

  in relation to a patient liable to be detained in hospital under this Order, the medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of Part II by [F13RQIA] who is in charge of the assessment or treatment of the patient;

  (b)

  in relation to a patient subject to guardianship under this Order, any medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of Part II by [F13RQIA] who may be authorised to act (either generally or in any particular case or class of case or for any particular purpose) as the responsible medical officer by the responsible[F4 authority];

  (c)

  in relation to any other patient, the medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of Part II by [F13RQIA] who is in charge of the treatment of the patient;

• “restriction direction” has the meaning assigned to it by Article 55(2);

• “restriction order” has the meaning assigned to it by Article 47(1);

• “the Review Tribunal” means [F14the Review Tribunal constituted under Article 70] ;

• “statutory provision” has the meaning assigned to it by section 1(f) of the [1954 c. 33 (N.I.)] Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954;

• “special accommodation” has the meaning assigned to it by Article 110;

• “transfer direction” has the meaning assigned to it by Article 53(2).

[F4(2A) In Articles 7A,[F15 29,] 107(1B), 113, 116, 121, 123(1) and 129(7) “hospital” includes any hospital or institution vested in an [F6HSC trust] other than an authorised [F6HSC trust].

(2B) A reference in any provision of this Order to an “authorised [F6HSC trust]” is a reference to an [F6HSC trust] [F16that is exercising social care and children functions within the meaning of Article 10A of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1991.]

(2C) A reference in this Order to the area of an authorised [F6HSC trust] is a reference to the operational area of that trust as defined in Article 2(2) of the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972.]

(3) In relation to a person who is liable to be detained or subject to guardianship by virtue of an order or direction under Part III, any reference in this Order to any provision contained in Part II or in Article 71, 72 or 73 shall be construed as a reference to that provision as it applies to that person by virtue of Part III or Article 74(1).

(4) In determining for the purposes of this Order whether the failure to detain a patient or the discharge of a patient would create a substantial likelihood of serious physical harm—

(a)to himself, regard shall be had only to evidence—

(i)that the patient has inflicted, or threatened or attempted to inflict, serious physical harm on himself; or

(ii)that the patient's judgment is so affected that he is, or would soon be, unable to protect himself against serious physical harm and that reasonable provision for his protection is not available in the community;

(b)to other persons, regard shall be had only to evidence—

(i)that the patient has behaved violently towards other persons; or

(ii)that the patient has so behaved himself that other persons were placed in reasonable fear of serious physical harm to themselves.

Definition of “mental disorder” and related expressionsN.I.

3.—(1) In this Order—

• “mental disorder” means mental illness, mental handicap and any other disorder or disability of mind;

• “mental illness” means a state of mind which affects a person's thinking, perceiving, emotion or judgment to the extent that he requires care or medical treatment in his own interests or the interests of other persons;

• “mental handicap” means a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning;

• “severe mental handicap” means a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning;

• “severe mental impairment” means a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning and is associated with abnormally aggressive or seriously irresponsible conduct on the part of the person concerned.

(2) No person shall be treated under this Order as suffering from mental disorder, or from any form of mental disorder, by reason only of personality disorder, promiscuity or other immoral conduct, sexual deviancy or dependence on alcohol or drugs.

[F17General provisions about patients under 16N.I.

Best interests of patient under 16N.I.

3A—(1) This Article applies to a person responsible for the treatment or care (or both) of a patient under 16.

(2) The person's primary consideration, when making decisions about the patient's treatment or care, must be the patient's best interests.

(3) In this Article—

(a)“treatment” means any treatment relating to mental disorder;

(b)“care” means any care given where the patient is being assessed or treated for mental disorder.

(4) In this paragraph references to assessment or treatment are to any assessment or treatment, whether or not under Part 2.

Determination of a patient's best interestsN.I.

3B—(1) This Article applies where for any purpose of this Order it falls to a person to determine what treatment or care would be in the best interests of a patient (“C”) who is under 16.

(2) In determining what would be in C's best interests, the person must take into account C's age but must not make the determination merely on the basis of—

(a)C's age or appearance; or

(b)any other characteristic of C's, including any condition that C has, which might lead others to make unjustified assumptions about what might be in C's best interests.

(3) The person—

(a)must consider all the relevant circumstances (that is, all the circumstances of which the person is aware which it is reasonable to regard as relevant); and

(b)must in particular take the following steps.

(4) The person—

(a)must consider whether it is likely that C will, when he or she reaches the age of 16, have capacity in relation to the matter in question; and

(b)if it appears likely that C will, must consider when C will reach that age.

(5) The person must, so far as reasonably practicable—

(a)encourage and help C to participate, or to improve C's ability to participate, as fully as possible in any decision about C's treatment or care; and

(b)in particular, ensure that C is provided in an appropriate way with information and advice about the treatment or care.

(6) The person must have special regard to (so far as they are reasonably ascertainable)—

(a)C's past and present wishes and feelings (and, in particular, any relevant written statement made by C); and

(b)C's beliefs and values.

(7) The person must—

(a)so far as it is practicable and appropriate to do so, consult the relevant people about what would be in C's best interests and in particular about the matters mentioned in paragraph (6); and

(b)take into account the views of those people (so far as ascertained from that consultation or otherwise) about what would be in C's best interests and in particular about those matters.

For the definition of “the relevant people” see paragraph (9).

(8) The person must, in relation to anything proposed to be done, have regard to whether the same purpose can be as effectively achieved in a way that is less restrictive of C's rights and freedoms of action.

(9) In paragraph (7) “the relevant people” means—

(a)every person who has parental responsibility for C;

(b)C's nearest relative;

(c)if at the time of the determination there is an independent advocate instructed to represent and provide support to C, the independent advocate;

(d)any other person named by C as someone to be consulted on the matter in question or on matters of that kind;

(e)anyone engaged in caring for C or interested in C's welfare.

Independent AdvocatesN.I.

3C—(1) The Department must make regulations about independent advocates.

(2) An “independent advocate” means a person who has been appointed by an HSC trust, in accordance with the regulations, to be a person to whom the trust may from time to time offer instructions to represent and provide support to a patient who is under 16 in relation to matters specified in the instructions.

(3) The regulations may in particular—

(a)require HSC trusts to make arrangements for the purpose of ensuring that independent advocates are available to be instructed;

(b)make provision about such arrangements (including provision providing that a person may be appointed as mentioned in paragraph (2) only if the person meets prescribed conditions);

(c)make provision for the purpose of securing the independence of independent advocates;

(d)make provision in relation to the instruction of independent advocates (including provision permitting or requiring a prescribed person, in prescribed circumstances, to request an HSC trust to instruct an independent advocate);

(e)make provision about the functions of independent advocates.

(4) The conditions that may be prescribed by virtue of paragraph (3)(b) include—

(a)a condition that the person is approved, or belongs to a description of persons approved, in accordance with the regulations;

(b)a condition that the person has prescribed qualifications or skills or has undertaken prescribed training.

(5) The regulations must make provision for the purpose of securing that, except in prescribed circumstances, an independent advocate is instructed—

(a)where a patient under 16 is admitted to a hospital (whether under Part 2 or otherwise) for the assessment or treatment of mental disorder; or

(b)where it is proposed to give a patient under 16 a form of medical treatment to which Article 63 or 63B applies.

(6) The regulations may apply, or make provision corresponding to, any provision within paragraph (7) (with or without modifications).

(7) The provisions are—

(a)any provision of Part 4 of the 2016 Act;

(b)any provision of regulations made under that Part;

(c)any provision that could be made by regulations under that Part.

In-patients under 16: duties of hospital managersN.I.

3D—(1) This Article applies in relation to a patient who—

(a)is under 16; and

(b)is an in-patient in a hospital for the purposes of the assessment or treatment of mental disorder (whether by virtue of Part 2 or otherwise).

(2) The responsible authority of the hospital must ensure that (subject to the patient's needs) the patient's environment in the hospital is suitable having regard to his or her age.

(3) For the purposes of deciding how to fulfil the duty under paragraph (2), the responsible authority must consult a person who appears to thatauthority to have knowledge or experience which makes that person suitable to be consulted.]

PART IIN.I.COMPULSORY ADMISSION TO HOSPITAL AND GUARDIANSHIP

Admission to hospital for assessmentN.I.

Admission for assessmentN.I.

4.—(1) A patient may be admitted to a hospital for assessment and there detained for the period allowed by Article 9, in pursuance of an application for admission for assessment (in this Order referred to as “an application for assessment”) made in accordance with this Article.

(2) An application for assessment may be made in respect of a patient on the grounds that—

(a)he is suffering from mental disorder of a nature or degree which warrants his detention in a hospital for assessment (or for assessment followed by medical treatment); and

(b)failure to so detain him would create a substantial likelihood of serious physical harm to himself or to other persons.

(3) An application for assessment shall be founded on and accompanied by a medical recommendation given in accordance with Article 6 by a medical practitioner which shall include—

(a)a statement that, in the opinion of the practitioner, the grounds set out in paragraph (2)(a) and (b) apply to the patient;

(b)such particulars as may be prescribed of the grounds for that opinion so far as it relates to the ground set out in paragraph (2)(a);

(c)a statement of the evidence for that opinion so far as it relates to the ground set out in paragraph (2)(b).

(4) An application for assessment shall—

(a)be made in the prescribed form; and

(b)be addressed to the responsible[F18 authority].

Person who may make application for assessmentN.I.

5.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Article, an application for assessment may be made by—

(a)the nearest relative of the patient; or

(b)an approved social worker,

and such a person is, in relation to an application for assessment made by him, referred to in this Order as “the applicant”.

(2) An application for assessment shall not be made by a person unless he has personally seen the patient not more than [F19two days] [F19five days] before the date on which the application is made.

(3) An application for assessment shall not be made by an approved social worker except after consultation with the person, if any, appearing to be the nearest relative of the patient unless it appears to the approved social worker that in the circumstances such consultation is not reasonably practicable or would involve unreasonable delay.

(4) Where the nearest relative of a patient notifies an approved social worker or the responsible [F20authority] that he objects to an application for assessment being make in respect of the patient then—

(a)no application for assessment in respect of the patient shall be made by an approved social worker unless he has consulted another approved social worker; and

(b)if, after such consultation, an approved social worker makes an application for assessment in respect of the patient, he shall record the objection of the nearest relative on the application for assessment.

(5) Where a patient is admitted to a hospital for assessment in pursuance of an application for assessment made by an approved social worker without consulting the person appearing to be the nearest relative of the patient, it shall be the duty of that social worker to inform the nearest relative of the patient to that effect as soon as may be practicable.

(6) Where a patient is admitted to a hospital for assessment in pursuance of an application for assessment made by his nearest relative, the responsible [F20authority] shall as soon as practicable arrange for a social worker to interview the patient and provide the responsible medical officer with a report on his social circumstances.

General provisions as to medical recommendationN.I.

6.  The medical recommendation required for the purposes of an application for assessment shall be in the prescribed form and shall satisfy the following requirements, namely—

(a)the recommendation shall be given and signed by a medical practitioner who has personally examined the patient not more than [F21two days] [F21five days] before the date on which he signs the recommendation;

(b)the recommendation shall, if practicable, be given by the patient's medical practitioner or by a medical practitioner who has previous acquaintance with the patient;

(c)the recommendation shall not, except in a case of urgent necessity, be given by a medical practitioner on the staff of the hospital to which admission is sought;

(d)the recommendation shall not be given by any of the persons described in Schedule 1.

Application for assessment in respect of patient already in hospitalN.I.

7.—(1) An application for assessment may be made under this Part notwithstanding that a patient is already an in-patient in a hospital who is not liable to be detained there under this Order; and where an application is so made the patient shall be treated for the purposes of this Part as if he had been admitted to the hospital at the time when that application was received by the responsible [F22authority].

(2) If, where a patient is an in-patient in a hospital, but is not liable to be detained there under this Order, it appears to a medical practitioner on the staff of the hospital that an application for assessment ought to be made in respect of the patient, he may furnish to the responsible [F22authority] a report in the prescribed form to that effect; and where he does so, the patient may be detained in the hospital for a period not exceeding [F2348 hours] [F23120 hours] from the time when the report is so furnished.

(3) If, where a patient is receiving treatment for mental disorder as an in-patient in a hospital, but is not liable to be detained there under this Order, it appears to a nurse of the prescribed class—

(a)that an application for assessment ought to be made in respect of the patient; and

(b)that it is not practicable to secure the immediate attendance of a medical practitioner for the purpose of furnishing a report under paragraph (2),

the nurse may record that fact in the prescribed form; and in that event the patient may be detained in the hospital for a period of [F246 hours] [F2412 hours] from the time when that fact is so recorded or until the earlier arrival at the place where the patient is detained of a medical practitioner having power to furnish a report under that paragraph.

(4) A record made under paragraph (3) shall be delivered by the nurse to the responsible [F22authority] as soon as possible after it is made.

(5) Where a record is made under paragraph (3) the period mentioned in paragraph (2) shall begin at the time when it is made.

(6) A patient who has been detained in a hospital under paragraph (2) or paragraph (3) shall not be further detained under the same paragraph immediately after the expiry of that period of detention.

(7) The responsible [F22authority] shall immediately forward to [F25RQIA] a copy of any report furnished to the [F22authority] under paragraph (2) and of any record delivered to the [F22authority] under paragraph (4).

[F26Power to detain in hospital pending admission to another hospitalN.I.

7A.—(1) This Article applies to a hospital managed by an [F27HSC trust] other than an authorised [F27HSC trust] .

(2) If, where a patient is an in-patient in a hospital to which this Article applies, it appears to a medical practitioner on the staff of the hospital that an application for assessment ought to be made in respect of the patient, he may furnish to the [F27HSC trust] managing the hospital a report in the prescribed form to that effect; and where he does so, the patient may be detained in the hospital for a period not exceeding 48 hours from the time when the report is so furnished.

(3) A patient who has been detained in a hospital under paragraph (2) shall not be further detained under that paragraph immediately after the expiry of that period of detention.

(4) An [F27HSC trust] shall immediately forward to [F28RQIA] a copy of any report furnished to the trust under paragraph (2).]

Effect of application for assessmentN.I.

8.—(1) An application for assessment duly completed in accordance with this Part shall be sufficient authority for—

(a)the applicant or a person authorised by the applicant; or

(b)the responsible[F29 authority], if the applicant so requests in a case of difficulty,

to take the patient and convey him to the hospital specified in the application at any time within the period of—

(i)two days beginning with the date on which the medical recommendation was signed; or

(ii)such longer period (not exceeding 14 days) as a medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of this Part by [F30 RQIA] may certify in the prescribed form to be necessary in exceptional circumstances.

(2) Where a patient is admitted within that period to the hospital specified in any such application, or, being within a hospital, is treated by virtue of Article 7 as if he had been so admitted,—

[F29(a)the application shall be sufficient authority for the responsible authority to detain the patient in the hospital in accordance with Article 9; and]

(b)the responsible[F29 authority] shall immediately forward to [F30RQIA] a copy of the application for assessment and of the medical recommendation on which it is founded.

(3) Where a patient who is subject under this Order to the guardianship of a person other than [F29F31... an authorised [F32HSC trust]] is admitted to hospital for assessment, it shall be the duty of the responsible[F29 authority] to inform the guardian of the patient to that effect as soon as may be practicable.

The assessment periodN.I.

9.—(1) A patient admitted to hospital pursuant to an application for assessment made in accordance with this Part shall be examined [F33immediately after] [F33as soon as practicable and not later than 12 hours after] he is admitted thereto by—

(a)the responsible medical officer;

(b)a medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of this Part by [F34RQIA ]; or

(c)any other medical practitioner on the staff of the hospital.

(2) The examination required by paragraph (1) shall not be carried out by the medical practitioner who gave the medical recommendation on which the application for assessment is founded.

(3) A medical practitioner carrying out an examination under paragraph (1) shall immediately furnish to the responsible [F35authority] in the prescribed form a report of that examination and the date on which such a report is furnished to the [F35authority] is referred to in this Part as “the date of admission”.

(4) A patient admitted to hospital pursuant to an application for assessment may be detained in hospital for the purpose of enabling an examination to be made and a report to be furnished under the preceding provisions of this Article and where a report so furnished by a medical practitioner states that in his opinion the patient should be detained in hospital for assessment, the patient may be detained in hospital—

(a)where the report was furnished by the responsible medical officer or by a medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of this Part by [F34RQIA], for a period not exceeding 7 days beginning with the date of admission;

[F36(b)where the report was furnished by any other medical practitioner, for a period not exceeding 48 hours from the time when the report was furnished;]

[F36(aa)where the report was furnished by any other medical practitioner, and the conditions in paragraph (4A) were satisfied, for a period not exceeding 120 hours from the time when the report was furnished;

(b)where the report was furnished by any other medical practitioner, and any of the conditions in paragraph (4A) was not satisfied, for a period not exceeding 48 hours from when the report was furnished;

but shall not be so detained for any longer period unless he has become liable to be detained by virtue of paragraph (7) or (8).

[F37(4A) The conditions are that the medical practitioner—

(a)had (at the date on which the examination of the patient in accordance with paragraph (1) was carried out) at least 5 years' experience of working with mental health patients within the 10 years immediately preceding that date;

(b)considered that it was impractical for the responsible medical practitioner or a medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of this Part by RQIA to carry out the examination under paragraph (1) before the end of the period of 48 hours from the date on which the report was furnished; and

(c)furnished together with the report a written statement specifying that the practitioner—

(i)had the experience referred to in sub-paragraph (a); and

(ii)was of the opinion referred to in sub-paragraph (b).

(4B) The 5 years' experience referred to in sub-paragraph (4A)(a) need not be a single period, or continuous periods, of such experience.]

(5) A patient detained by virtue of [F38sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (4)] [F38sub-paragraph (aa) or (b) of paragraph (4)] shall be examined before the expiration of the period referred to in that sub-paragraph by the responsible medical officer.

(6) The responsible medical officer shall immediately furnish to the responsible [F35authority] in the prescribed form a report of the examination carried out under paragraph (5).

(7) Where a report so furnished by the responsible medical officer states that in his opinion the patient should be detained in hospital for assessment for a further period, the patient may be detained in hospital for a period not exceeding 7 days beginning with the date of admission but shall not be so detained for any longer period unless he has become liable to be detained by virtue of paragraph (8).

(8) Where during the period for which a patient is detained by virtue of paragraph (4)(a) or (7) he is examined by the responsible medical officer and the responsible medical officer furnishes to the responsible [F35authority] in the prescribed form a report of the examination stating that in his opinion the patient should be detained in hospital for assessment for a further period, the patient may be detained in hospital for a further period not exceeding [F397 days] [F3921 days] beginning immediately on the expiration of the period for which he is detained by virtue of paragraph (4)(a) or (7) but shall not be detained for any longer period unless he has become liable to be detained for treatment by virtue of Article 12.

(9) If it is not practicable for an examination under paragraph (5) or (8) to be carried out by the responsible medical officer, it may instead be carried out by a medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of this Part by [F34RQIA] and in such a case references in paragraphs (5) to (8) to the responsible medical officer shall be construed as including references to a medical practitioner so appointed.

(10) The responsible[F35authority] shall immediately forward to [F34RQIA] a copy of any report furnished to the [F35authority] under paragraph (3), (6) or (8).]

Disregard of assessment period for certain purposesN.I.

10.—(1) This Article applies to any person who—

(a)is admitted to hospital for assessment and detained there by virtue of Article 9 for any period (in this Article referred to as “the assessment period”); and

(b)at the end of the assessment period does not become liable to be detained for treatment by virtue of Article 12.

(2) Where a question seeking information with respect to the previous health or circumstances of any person to whom this Article applies is put to him or to any other person, otherwise than in judicial proceedings—

(a)the question shall be treated as not relating to the assessment period and the answer thereto may be framed accordingly; and

(b)the person questioned shall not be subjected to any liability or otherwise prejudiced in law by reason of any failure to acknowledge or disclose the assessment period in his answer to the question.

(3) Any obligation imposed on any person by any rule of law or by the provisions of any agreement or arrangement to disclose any matters to any other person shall not extend to requiring him to disclose—

(a)the assessment period for which he was detained, if he is a person to whom this Article applies; or

(b)the assessment period for which any other person to whom this Article applies was detained.

(4) The fact that a person to whom this Article applies has been detained in hospital for assessment or any failure to disclose that fact shall not be a proper ground for dismissing or excluding that person from any office, profession, occupation or employment, or for prejudicing him in any way in any occupation or employment.

(5) Any disqualification, disability, prohibition or other penalty which by virtue of any rule of law or statutory provision other than this Order attaches to or is imposed on any person by reason of the fact that he has been liable to be detained under this Part of this Order shall not attach to or be imposed on a person to whom this Article applies.

(6) In paragraph (2) “judicial proceedings” includes, in addition to proceedings before any of the ordinary courts of law, proceedings before any tribunal, body or person having power—

(a)by virtue of any statutory provision, law, custom or practice;

(b)under the rules governing any association, institution, profession, occupation or employment; or

(c)under any provision of an agreement providing for arbitration with respect to questions arising thereunder,

to determine any question affecting the rights, privileges, obligations or liabilities of any person, or to receive evidence affecting the determination of any such question.

Rectification of applications, recommendations and reportsN.I.

11.—(1) Where within the period of [F4014 days] [F4028 days] beginning with the date of admission, the application for assessment, the medical recommendation or any report given under Article 9 is found to be in any respect incorrect or defective, the application, recommendation or report may, within that period and with the consent of the responsible[F41 authority], be amended by the person by whom it was signed; and where any such amendment is made the application, recommendation or report shall have effect and shall be deemed always to have had effect as if it had been originally made as so amended.

(2) Without prejudice to paragraph (1), where within the period mentioned in that paragraph it appears to the responsible [F41authority] that a medical recommendation or a report under Article 9 is insufficient to warrant the detention of a patient under this Part, it may, within that period, give notice in writing to that effect to the applicant; and where any such notice is given in respect of a medical recommendation or report, that recommendation or report shall be disregarded, but the application for assessment shall be, and shall be deemed always to have been, sufficient if—

(a)a fresh medical recommendation or report complying with the relevant provisions of this Part (other than those relating to the time at which a recommendation must be signed or a report furnished) is furnished to the responsible [F41authority] within that period; and

(b)that recommendation or report complies with those provisions.

(3) The responsible [F41authority] shall immediately inform [F42RQIA] of any amendment made under paragraph (1) and shall immediately forward to [F42RQIA] a copy of any fresh medical recommendation or report furnished to the [F41authority] under paragraph (2)(a).

Detention in hospital for treatmentN.I.

Detention for treatmentN.I.

12.—(1) Where, during the period for which a patient is detained for assessment by virtue of Article 9(8), he is examined by a medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of this Part by [F43RQIA] and that medical practitioner furnishes to the responsible [F44 authority] in the prescribed form a report of the examination stating—

(a)that, in his opinion, the patient is suffering from mental illness or severe mental impairment of a nature or degree which warrants his detention in hospital for medical treatment; and

(b)that, in his opinion, failure to so detain the patient would create a substantial likelihood of serious physical harm to himself or to other persons; and

(c)such particulars as may be prescribed of the grounds for his opinion so far as it relates to the matters set out in sub-paragraph (a); and

(d)the evidence for his opinion so far as it relates to the matters set out in sub-paragraph (b), specifying whether other methods of dealing with the patient are available and, if so, why they are not appropriate,

that report shall be [F44 sufficient authority for the responsible authority to detain the patient] in the hospital for medical treatment and the patient may, subject to the provisions of this Order, be so detained for a period not exceeding 6 months beginning with the date of admission, but shall not be so detained for any longer period unless the authority for his detention is renewed under Article 13.

(2) A report under paragraph (1) shall not be given by—

(a)the medical practitioner who gave the medical recommendation on which the application for assessment is founded; or

(b)any of the persons described in Schedule 1.

(3) Where a patient is detained in a hospital for treatment by virtue of a report under paragraph (1), any previous application under this Part by virtue of which he was subject to guardianship shall cease to have effect.

(4) The responsible [F44 authority] shall immediately forward to [F43RQIA] a copy of any report furnished to the [F44 authority] under paragraph (1).

(5) In this Order “detained for treatment”, in relation to a patient, means detained in a hospital for medical treatment by virtue of a report under paragraph (1) or by virtue of a report under Article 13(2), (3) or (5).

Renewal of authority for detentionN.I.

13.—(1) Authority for the detention of a patient for treatment may, unless the patient has previously been discharged, be renewed under this Article—

(a)from the expiration of the period referred to in Article 12(1), for a further period of 6 months if the provisions of paragraph (2) are complied with;

(b)from the expiration of any period of renewal under sub-paragraph (a), for a further period of one year if the provisions of paragraphs (3) and (4) are complied with;

(c)from the expiration of any period of renewal under sub-paragraph (b) for a further period of one year if the provisions of paragraph (5) are complied with, and so on for periods of one year at a time if the provisions of paragraph (5) are complied with in each case.

(2) Within the period of one month ending with the day on which a patient who is liable to be detained for treatment would cease under Article 12(1) to be so liable in default of the renewal of the authority for his detention, the responsible medical officer shall examine the patient and where that medical officer furnishes to the responsible[F45 authority] in the prescribed form a report of the examination stating the opinions, particulars and evidence referred to in Article 12(1)(a), (b), (c) and (d), the authority for the detention of the patient shall, by virtue of the report, be renewed for the further period mentioned in paragraph (1)(a).

(3) Within the period of two months ending with the day on which a patient who is liable to be detained by virtue of an authority renewed under paragraph (2) would cease to be so liable in default of the further renewal of that authority, the responsible[F45 authority] shall arrange for the examination of the patient by two medical practitioners in accordance with paragraph (4) and where those practitioners furnish to the responsible[F45 authority] in the prescribed form a report of the examination stating the opinions, particulars and evidence referred to in Article 12(1)(a), (b), (c) and (d), the authority for the detention of the patient shall, by virtue of the report, be renewed for the further period mentioned in paragraph (1)(b).

(4) Where the[F45 responsible authority] arranges for the examination of the patient under paragraph (3)—

(a)it shall give the patient and his nearest relative not less than 14 days' notice in writing of the date of the examination;

(b)the two medical practitioners who carry out the examination shall be appointed for the purposes of this Part by [F46RQIA] ;

(c)one of the medical practitioners who carry out the examination shall be a person who is not on the staff of the hospital in which the patient is detained and who has not given either the medical recommendation on which the application for assessment in relation to the patient was founded or any medical report in relation to the patient under Article 9 or 12(1);

(d)the report of the examination shall consist of a joint report signed by both medical practitioners.

(5) Within the period of two months ending with the day on which a patient who is liable to be detained by virtue of an authority for detention renewed under paragraph (3) or this paragraph would cease to be so liable in default of the further renewal of that authority, the responsible medical officer shall examine the patient and where that medical officer furnishes to the responsible[F45 authority] in the prescribed form a report of the examination stating the opinions, particulars and evidence referred to in Article 12(1)(a), (b), (c) and (d), the authority for the detention of the patient shall, by virtue of the report, be renewed for the further period mentioned in paragraph (1)(c).

(6) Where a report under paragraph (2), (3) or (5) is furnished to the responsible[F45 authority], it shall, unless it discharges the patient—

(a)cause him and his nearest relative to be informed;

(b)forward to [F46RQIA] a copy of the report.

Discharge of patient from detentionN.I.

14.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Article, a patient who is for the time being liable to be detained under this Part shall cease to be so liable if an order in writing discharging him from detention is made in respect of him by the responsible medical officer, the responsible[F47 authority] or his nearest relative.

(2) The responsible medical officer shall make an order under paragraph (1) in respect of a patient liable to be detained under this Part where he is satisfied—

(a)that the patient is no longer suffering from mental illness or severe mental impairment of a nature or degree which warrants his detention in hospital for medical treatment; or

(b)that, having regard to the care which would be available for the patient if he were discharged, the discharge would not create a substantial likelihood of serious physical harm to himself or to other persons.

(3) The responsible medical officer shall not make an order under paragraph (1) in respect of a patient detained in any special accommodation unless the responsible[F47 authority] consents to the discharge of the patient.

(4) An order under paragraph (1) in respect of a patient who is liable to be detained under this Part shall not be made by his nearest relative except after giving not less than 72 hours' notice in writing to the responsible[F47 authority]; and if, within 72 hours after such notice has been given, the responsible medical officer furnishes to that[F47 authority] a report in writing certifying—

(a)that, in the opinion of that officer, the patient is suffering from mental illness or severe mental impairment of a nature or degree which warrants his detention in hospital for medical treatment and that the discharge of the patient would create a substantial likelihood of serious physical harm to himself or to other persons; or

(b)that that officer is not satisfied that the patient, if discharged, would receive proper care;

then—

(i)any order under paragraph (1) made by that relative in pursuance of the notice shall be of no effect; and

(ii)a further order for the discharge of the patient shall not be made by that relative during the period of 6 months beginning with the date of the report.

(5) Where, but for this paragraph, a Sunday or any part thereof would be reckoned in the period of 72 hours referred to in paragraph (4), for the references in that paragraph to 72 hours there shall be substituted references to 96 hours.

(6) For the purpose of advising as to the exercise by the nearest relative of a patient who is liable to be detained under this Part of any power to order his discharge, any medical practitioner authorised by or on behalf of the nearest relative may—

(a)at any reasonable time visit the patient and examine him in private; and

(b)require the production of and inspect any records relating to the detention or treatment of the patient in any hospital.

(7) Where a report is furnished under paragraph (4) in respect of a patient, the responsible[F47 authority] shall immediately—

(a)inform the nearest relative of the patient; and

(b)forward a copy of the report to [F48RQIA] .

(8) Where a patient is discharged from detention under this Article the responsible[F47 authority] shall immediately inform [F48RQIA] to that effect.

Leave of absence from hospitalN.I.

15.—(1) The responsible medical officer may grant to any patient who is for the time being liable to be detained in a hospital under this Part leave to be absent from the hospital subject to such conditions, if any, as that officer considers necessary in the interests of the patient or for the protection of other persons.

(2) Leave of absence may be granted to a patient under this Article either on specified occasions or for any specified period; and where leave is so granted for a specified period, that period may be extended by further leave granted in the absence of the patient.

(3) Where it appears to the responsible medical officer that it is necessary to do so in the interests of the patient or for the protection of other persons, he may, upon granting leave of absence under this Article, direct that the patient remain in custody during his absence; and where leave of absence is so granted the patient may be kept in the custody of any officer of the responsible[F49 authority], or of any other person authorised in writing by that[F49 authority].

(4) Where leave of absence is granted to a patient under this Article or where a period of leave is extended by further leave and the leave or the extension is for a period of more than 28 days, it shall be the duty of the responsible[F49 authority] to inform [F50RQIA] within 14 days of the granting of leave or of the extension, as the case may be, of the address at which the patient is residing and, on the return of the patient, to notify [F50RQIA] thereof within 14 days.

(5) Where—

(a)a patient is absent from a hospital in pursuance of leave of absence granted under this Article; and

(b)it appears to the responsible medical officer that it is necessary to do so in the interests of the patient's health or safety or for the protection of other persons or because the patient is not receiving proper care;

that officer may, subject to paragraph (6), by notice in writing given to the patient or to the person for the time being in charge of the patient, revoke the leave of absence and recall the patient to the hospital.

(6) A patient to whom leave of absence is granted under this Article shall not be recalled under paragraph (5) after he has ceased to be liable to be detained under this Part.

Correspondence of detained patientsN.I.

16.—(1) A postal packet addressed to any person by a patient detained in a hospital under this Part and delivered by him for dispatch may be withheld from[F51 the postal operator concerned]

(a)if that person has requested that communications addressed to him by the patient should be withheld; or

(b)subject to paragraph (3), if the patient is detained in special accommodation and the responsible[F52 authority] considers that the postal packet is likely—

(i)to cause distress to the person to whom it is addressed or to any other person (not being a person on the staff of the special accommodation); or

(ii)to cause danger to any person,

and any request for the purposes of sub-paragraph (a) shall be made by a notice in writing given to the responsible[F52 authority] or the responsible medical officer.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), a postal packet addressed to a patient detained in special accommodation under this Part may be withheld from the patient if, in the opinion of the responsible[F52 authority], it is necessary to do so in the interests of the safety of the patient or for the protection of other persons.

(3) Paragraphs (1)(b) and (2) do not apply to any postal packet addressed by a patient to, or sent to a patient by or on behalf of—

(a)any Northern Ireland department or department of the government of the United Kingdom;

(b)any Minister of the Crown[F53, the Scottish Ministers], any member of either House of Parliament[F53, any member of the Scottish Parliament] or member of the Assembly;

(c)the Master (Care and Protection), any of the Lord Chief Justice's Visitors or any officer of the Office of Care and Protection;

(d)[F54RQIA]F55. . . or any person appointed by [F54RQIA] under Article 87(1)(b) or (c);

(e)the Review Tribunal;

[F52(f)any F56... [F57HSC trust] ;]

(g)the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration [F58or the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman] ;

(h)any legally qualified person instructed by the patient to act as his legal adviser; or

(i)the European Commission on Human Rights or the European Court of Human Rights.

(4) The responsible[F52 authority] may open and inspect any postal packet for the purpose of determining whether it is one to which paragraph (1) or (2) applies and, if so, whether or not it should be withheld under that paragraph; and the power to withhold a postal packet under either of those paragraphs includes power to withhold anything contained in it.

(5) Where a postal packet or anything contained in it is withheld under paragraph (1) or (2) the responsible[F52 authority] shall record that fact in writing.

(6) Where a postal packet or anything contained in it is withheld under paragraph (1)(b) or (2) the responsible[F52 authority] shall within 7 days give notice of that fact to the patient and, in a case under paragraph (2) to the person (if known) by whom the postal packet was sent; and any such notice shall be in writing and shall contain a statement of the effect of Article 17.

(7) The Department may make regulations with respect to the exercise of the powers conferred by this Article.

(8) In this Article and in Article 17[F51 “postal packet” and “postal operator” have] the same meaning as in[F59the Postal Services Act 2011];F51. . .

Review of decision to withhold postal packetN.I.

17.—(1) [F60RQIA] shall review any decision to withhold a postal packet or anything contained in it under paragraph (1)(b) or (2) of Article 16 if an application in that behalf is made—

(a)in a case under the said paragraph (1)(b), by the patient; or

(b)in a case under the said paragraph (2), either by the patient or by the person by whom the postal packet was sent;

and any such application shall be made within 6 months of the receipt by the applicant of the notice referred to in paragraph (6) of that Article.

(2) On an application under paragraph (1) [F60RQIA] may direct that the postal packet or anything contained in it which is the subject of the application shall not be withheld and the responsible[F61 authority] shall comply with any such direction.

(3) The Department may by regulations make provision with respect to the making and determination of applications under paragraph (1), including provision for the production to [F60RQIA] of any postal packet which is the subject of such an application.

GuardianshipN.I.

Reception of patients into guardianshipN.I.

18.—(1) A patient who has attained the age of 16 years may be received into guardianship, for the period allowed by the following provisions of this Part, in pursuance of an application (in this Order referred to as “a guardianship application”) made in accordance with this Article.

(2) A guardianship application may be made in respect of a patient on the grounds that—

(a)he is suffering from mental illness or severe mental handicap of a nature or degree which warrants his reception into guardianship under this Article; and

(b)it is necessary in the interests of the welfare of the patient that he should be so received.

(3) A guardianship application shall be founded on and accompanied by two medical recommendations and a recommendation by an approved social worker and—

(a)each medical recommendation shall be given in accordance with Article 20 by a medical practitioner and shall include—

(i)a statement that, in his opinion, the ground set out in paragraph (2)(a) applies in relation to the patient; and

(ii)such particulars as may be prescribed of the grounds for that opinion;

(b)the recommendation by the approved social worker shall be in the prescribed form and shall include—

(i)a statement that, in his opinion, the ground set out in paragraph (2)(b) applies in relation to the patient;

(ii)the reasons for that opinion; and

(iii)a statement as to whether he is related to the patient and of any pecuniary interest that he may have in the reception of the patient into guardianship.

(4) A guardianship application shall—

(a)be made in the prescribed form; and

(b)be forwarded to the responsible[F62 authority].

(5) The person named as guardian in a guardianship application may be either the responsible[F62 authority] or, subject to paragraph (6), any other person (including the applicant himself).

(6) A guardianship application in which a person other than the responsible[F62 authority] is named as guardian—

(a)shall be accompanied by a statement in writing by that person that he is willing to act as guardian; and

(b)shall be of no effect unless it is accepted on behalf of that person by the responsible[F62 authority].

(7) A guardianship application and any medical recommendation given for the purposes of such an application may describe the patient as suffering from mental illness or severe mental handicap or in both those ways, but the application shall not be of any effect unless each of the medical recommendations describes the patient as suffering from the same form of mental disorder, whether or not either describes the patient as also suffering from another form.

Person who may make guardianship applicationN.I.

19.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Article, a guardianship application may be made by—

(a)the nearest relative of the patient; or

(b)an approved social worker,

and such a person is, in relation to a guardianship application made by him, referred to in this Order as “the applicant”.

(2) A guardianship application shall not be made by a person unless he has personally seen the patient not more than 14 days before the date on which the application is made.

(3) A guardianship application shall not be made by an approved social worker except after consultation with the person, if any, appearing to be the nearest relative of the patient unless it appears to the approved social worker that in the circumstances such consultation is not reasonably practicable or would involve unreasonable delay.

(4) A guardianship application shall not be made by an approved social worker if he gave the recommendation under Article 18(3)(b) on which the application is founded.

(5) Where the nearest relative of a patient notifies an approved social worker or the responsible[F63 authority] that he objects to a guardianship application being made in respect of the patient, then—

(a)no guardianship application in respect of the patient shall be made by an approved social worker unless he has consulted another approved social worker (not being the social worker who gave the recommendation under Article 18(3)(b) on which the application is founded); and

(b)if, after such consultation, an approved social worker makes a guardianship application in respect of the patient, he shall record the objection of the nearest relative on the guardianship application.

(6) Where a patient is received into guardianship in pursuance of a guardianship application made by an approved social worker without consulting the person appearing to be the nearest relative of the patient, it shall be the duty of that social worker to inform the nearest relative of the patient to that effect as soon as may be practicable.

General provisions as to medical recommendationsN.I.

20.—(1) The medical recommendations required for the purposes of a guardianship application shall be in the prescribed form and shall satisfy the following requirements, namely—

(a)each recommendation shall be given and signed by a medical practitioner who has personally examined the patient not more than two days before the date on which he signs the recommendation;

(b)where the medical practitioners have examined the patient separately, not more than 7 days must have elapsed between the days on which the separate examinations took place;

(c)one recommendation shall be given by a medical practitioner appointed by [F64RQIA] for the purposes of this Part, and the other shall, if practicable, be given by the patient's medical practitioner or by a medical practitioner who has previous acquaintance with the patient;

(d)neither recommendation shall be given by—

(i)the person named as guardian in the guardianship application; or

(ii)any of the persons described in Schedule 1.

(2) A guardianship application shall be sufficient if the medical recommendations on which it is founded are given either as separate recommendations, each signed by a medical practitioner, or as a joint recommendation signed by two medical practitioners.

Rectification of guardianship applications and recommendationsN.I.

21.—(1) Where within the period of 14 days beginning with the day on which a guardianship application has been accepted by the responsible[F65 authority] the application, or any recommendation given for the purposes of the application, is found to be in any respect incorrect or defective, the application or recommendation may, within that period and with the consent of that[F65 authority], be amended by the person by whom it was signed; and where any such amendment is made the application or recommendation shall have effect and shall be deemed always to have had effect as if it had been originally made as so amended.

(2) Without prejudice to paragraph (1), where within the period mentioned in that paragraph it appears to the responsible[F65 authority] that one of the recommendations on which the guardianship application is founded is insufficient to warrant reception into guardianship in pursuance of the application, it may, within that period, give notice in writing to that effect to the applicant; and where any such notice is given in respect of a recommendation that recommendation shall be disregarded, but the application shall be, and shall be deemed always to have been, sufficient if—

(a)a fresh recommendation complying with the relevant provisions of this Part (other than, in the case of a medical recommendation, the provisions relating to the time of signature and the interval between medical examinations) is furnished to the[F65 authority] within that period; and

(b)that recommendation and the other recommendations on which the application is founded together comply with those provisions.

(3) Where the medical recommendations upon which an application under this Part is founded are, taken together, insufficient to warrant reception into guardianship in pursuance of the application, a notice under paragraph (2) may be given in respect of either of those recommendations; but this paragraph shall not apply in a case where the application is of no effect by virtue of Article 18(7).

(4) The responsible[F65 authority] shall immediately inform [F66RQIA] of any amendment made under paragraph (1) and shall immediately forward to [F66RQIA] a copy of any fresh recommendation furnished to the[F65 authority] under paragraph (2)(a).

Effect of guardianship applicationN.I.

22.—(1) Where a guardianship application, duly made in accordance with the provisions of this Part and forwarded to the responsible[F67 authority] within the period allowed by paragraph (2), is accepted by that[F67 authority], the application shall, subject to regulations, confer on the [F67F68... authorised [F69HSC trust]] or person named in the application as guardian, to the exclusion of any other person—

(a)the power to require the patient to reside at a place specified by the[F67F68... authorised [F69HSC trust]] or person named as guardian;

(b)the power to require the patient to attend at places and times so specified for the purpose of medical treatment, occupation, education or training;

(c)the power to require access to the patient to be given at any place where the patient is residing to any medical practitioner, approved social worker or other person so specified.

(2) The period within which a guardianship application is required for the purposes of this Article to be forwarded to the responsible[F67 authority] is the period of 7 days beginning with the date on which the patient was last examined by a medical practitioner before giving a medical recommendation for the purposes of the application.

(3) A patient received into guardianship in pursuance of a guardianship application may, subject to the provisions of this Order, be kept under guardianship for a period not exceeding 6 months beginning with the day on which the guardianship application was accepted, but shall not be so kept for any longer period unless the authority for his guardianship is renewed under Article 23.

(4) Where a patient is received into guardianship in pursuance of a guardianship application—

(a)any previous application under this Part by virtue of which he was subject to guardianship shall cease to have effect;

(b)if he was previously liable to be detained for assessment or for treatment under this Part, he shall cease to be so liable.

(5) Where a patient is received into guardianship in pursuance of a guardianship application the responsible[F67 authority] shall immediately forward to [F70RQIA] a copy of the guardianship application and of the medical recommendations and the recommendation by an approved social worker on which it is founded.

Renewal of authority for guardianshipN.I.

23.—(1) Authority for the guardianship of a patient may, unless the patient has previously been discharged, be renewed under this Article—

(a)from the expiration of the period referred to in Article 22(3), for a further period of 6 months;

(b)from the expiration of any period of renewal under sub-paragraph (a), for a further period of one year,

and so on for periods of one year at a time.

(2) Within the period of 2 months ending with the day on which a patient who is subject to guardianship under this Part would cease under Article 22(3) or this Article to be so liable in default of the renewal of the authority for his guardianship—

(a)the responsible medical officer shall examine the patient or obtain from another medical practitioner a report on the condition of the patient; and, if it appears to him that the ground set out in Article 18(2)(a) continues to apply in relation to the patient, he shall furnish to such approved social worker as the responsible[F71 authority] may direct a report to that effect in the prescribed form along with the report first mentioned if such a report has been obtained; and

(b)that approved social worker shall consider whether the ground set out in Article 18(2)(b) continues to apply in relation to the patient; and if it appears to him that it does continue so to apply, he shall furnish to the responsible[F71 authority] a report to that effect in the prescribed form along with the report or reports furnished to him under sub-paragraph (a).

(3) Where a report is duly furnished to the responsible[F71 authority] under paragraph (2)(b), the authority for the guardianship of the patient shall be thereby renewed for the period prescribed in that case by paragraph (1).

(4) Where a report under paragraph (2)(b) is furnished to the responsible[F71 authority], it shall, unless it discharges the patient—

(a)cause him, his nearest relative and his guardian to be informed;

(b)forward to [F72RQIA] a copy of the report and of the report or reports referred to in paragraph (2)(a).

(5) Where the form of mental disorder specified in a report furnished under paragraph (2)(a) is a form of disorder other than that specified in the guardianship application, that application shall have effect as if that other form of mental disorder were specified in it.

Discharge of patient from guardianshipN.I.

24.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this Article, a patient who is for the time being subject to guardianship under this Part shall cease to be so subject if an order in writing discharging him from guardianship is made in respect of him by the responsible medical officer, an authorised social worker or his nearest relative.

(2) The responsible medical officer shall make an order under paragraph (1) in respect of a patient subject to guardianship under this Part where he is satisfied that the patient is not suffering from mental illness or severe mental handicap of a nature or degree which warrants his remaining under guardianship.

(3) An authorised social worker shall make an order under paragraph (1) in respect of a patient subject to guardianship under this Part where he is satisfied that it is not necessary in the interests of the welfare of the patient that he should remain under guardianship.

(4) An order under paragraph (1) in respect of a patient subject to guardianship under this Part shall not be made by his nearest relative except after giving not less than 72 hours' notice in writing to the responsible[F73 authority]; and if, within 72 hours after such notice has been given—

(a)the responsible medical officer furnishes to the responsible[F73 authority] a report in writing that the ground set out in Article 18(2)(a) continues to apply in relation to the patient; and

(b)an authorised social worker furnishes to the responsible[F73 authority] a report in writing that the ground set out in Article 18(2)(b) continues to apply in relation to the patient,

then—

(i)any order under paragraph (1) made by that relative in pursuance of the notice shall be of no effect; and

(ii)a further order for the discharge of the patient shall not be made by that relative during the period of 6 months beginning with the date of the later of the two reports.

(5) Where, but for this paragraph, a Sunday or any part thereof would be reckoned in the period of 72 hours referred to in paragraph (4), for the references in that paragraph to 72 hours there shall be substituted references to 96 hours.

(6) For the purpose of advising as to the exercise by the nearest relative of a patient who is subject to guardianship under this Part of any power to order his discharge, any medical practitioner authorised by or on behalf of the nearest relative of the patient may at any reasonable time visit the patient and examine him in private.

(7) Where reports are furnished under both sub-paragraph (a) and sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (4) in respect of a patient, the responsible[F73 authority] shall immediately—

(a)inform the nearest relative of the patient; and

(b)forward a copy of each report to [F74RQIA] .

(8) Where a patient is discharged from guardianship under this Article the responsible[F73 authority] shall immediately inform [F74RQIA] and, in the case of a person subject to the guardianship of a person other than the[F73 authority], the guardian to that effect.

(9) In this Article “authorised social worker” means an approved social worker authorised for the purposes of this Article by the responsible[F73 authority].

Transfer of guardianship on death, incapacity, etc. of guardianN.I.

25.—(1) If any person[F75 (other than F76... an authorised [F77HSC trust])] having the guardianship of a patient received into guardianship under this Part—

(a)dies; or

(b)gives notice in writing to the responsible[F75 authority] that he desires to relinquish the functions of guardian,

the guardianship of the patient shall thereupon vest in the responsible[F75 authority], but without prejudice to any power to transfer the patient into the guardianship of another person by virtue of Article 28.

(2) If any such person, not having given notice under paragraph (1)(b), is incapacitated by illness or any other cause from performing the functions of guardian of the patient, those functions may, during his incapacity, be performed on his behalf by the responsible[F75 authority] or by any other person approved for the purpose by that[F75 authority].

(3) If it appears to a county court, upon application made by an officer of the responsible[F75 authority], that any person[F75 (other than F76... an authorised [F77HSC trust])] having the guardianship of a patient received into guardianship under this Part has performed his functions negligently or in a manner contrary to the interests of the welfare of the patient, the court may order that the guardianship of the patient be transferred to the responsible[F75 authority] or to any other person approved for the purpose by that[F75 authority].

(4) Where the guardianship of a patient is transferred to[F75 the responsible authority or any] other person by or under this Article, Article 28(6) shall apply as if the patient had been transferred into the guardianship of that[F75 authority] or person by virtue of that Article.

(5) The responsible[F75 authority] shall immediately notify [F78RQIA] of the transfer of guardianship of a patient by or under this Article.

Regulations as to guardianshipN.I.

26.  Subject to the provisions of this Part, the Department may make regulations—

(a)for regulating the exercise by the guardians of patients received into guardianship under this Part of their powers as guardians; and

(b)for imposing on those guardians and upon F79... [F80[F81HSC trusts]] such duties as the Department considers necessary or expedient in the interests of the patients; and

(c)requiring the patients to be visited, on such occasions or at such intervals as may be prescribed.

Provisions relating to patients subject to detention or guardianshipN.I.

Duty of [F82authority] to give information to patients and nearest relativesN.I.

27.—(1) The responsible[F82 authority] shall, in relation to a patient detained in a hospital or subject to guardianship under this Part, take such steps as are practicable to ensure that the patient understands—

(a)under which of the provisions of this Order he is for the time being detained or subject to guardianship and the effect of that provision; and

(b)what rights of applying to the Review Tribunal are available to him in respect of his detention or guardianship under that provision;

and those steps shall be taken as soon as practicable after the commencement of the patient's detention under the provision in question or the commencement or renewal of the authority for his guardianship.

(2) The responsible[F82 authority] shall also take such steps as are practicable to ensure—

(a)that a patient detained in a hospital or subject to guardianship under this Part understands—

(i)the effect, so far as relevant in his case, of Articles 14, 24 and 71(4); and

(ii)that he may make representations to [F83RQIA] ;

(b)that a patient detained in a hospital under this Part understands the effect, so far as relevant in his case, of Articles 16, 17 and 111 and Part IV;

(c)that the nearest relative of a patient detained in a hospital or subject to guardianship under this Part is furnished with a written statement of his rights and powers under this Order;

and those steps shall be taken as soon as practicable after the commencement of the patient's detention or his reception into guardianship.

(3) The steps to be taken under paragraphs (1) and (2)(a) and (b) shall include giving the requisite information both orally and in writing.

(4) The responsible[F82 authority] shall take such steps as are practicable to ensure that where a patient ceases to be liable to be detained in hospital or subject to guardianship under this Part the patient, his nearest relative and, in the case of a patient subject under this Part to the guardianship of a person other than[F82 the responsible authority], the guardian of the patient are informed of that fact as soon as practicable after he so ceases.

(5) The responsible[F82 authority] shall, except where the patient otherwise requests, take such steps as are practicable to furnish his nearest relative with a copy of any information given to the patient in writing under paragraphs (1) and (2); and those steps shall be taken when the information is given to the patient or within a reasonable time thereafter.

Transfer of patientsN.I.

28.—(1) [F84[F85An] authorised [F86HSC trust]] may arrange for the transfer from one hospital to another hospital of a patient who is liable to be detained in hospital under this Part.

(2) Where a patient is transferred to another hospital by virtue of paragraph (1), the provisions of this Part shall apply to him as if—

(a)the application for assessment by virtue of which he was admitted to hospital had specified the hospital to which he is transferred;

(b)he had been admitted to that hospital at the time when he was originally admitted in pursuance of the application; and

(c)any report furnished in respect of him under Article 9, 12(1) or 13 had been furnished in that hospital.

(3) Where an application for assessment, duly completed in accordance with this Part, is made in respect of any patient, the Department may by order in writing direct that that patient shall be admitted to any hospital specified in the order.

(4) Where the Department issues an order under paragraph (3)—

(a)paragraph (2) shall apply in relation to the patient as if he had been transferred to the hospital specified in the order by virtue of paragraph (1); and

(b)it shall be the duty of [F84F87... the authorised [F86HSC trust] managing] the hospital specified in the order to admit the patient to that hospital.

(5) [F84[F88An] authorised [F86HSC trust]] may arrange for the transfer—

(a)of a patient who is subject to guardianship under this Part, from the guardianship of any person into the guardianship of any other person;

(b)of a patient who is liable to be detained in hospital for treatment, into the guardianship of any person.

(6) Where a patient is transferred into the guardianship of another person by virtue of paragraph (5)(a), the provisions of this Part shall apply to him as if the guardianship application by virtue of which he is subject to guardianship under this Part were for his reception into the guardianship of that person and had been accepted at the time when it was originally accepted.

(7) Where a patient is transferred into the guardianship of any person by virtue of paragraph (5)(b), the provisions of this Part shall apply to him as if the application for assessment by virtue of which he was admitted to hospital were a guardianship application duly accepted at the time when he was originally admitted to hospital in pursuance of the application.

(8) Arrangements for the transfer of a patient under this Article may be made subject to such conditions as may be prescribed.

(9) The responsible[F84 authority] before arranging for the transfer of any patient under this Article shall, if practicable, inform the nearest relative of the patient and, in the case of a person subject to the guardianship of a person other than the[F84 authority], the guardian of the patient of the intended transfer.

(10) The responsible[F84 authority] shall immediately notify [F89RQIA] of the transfer of any patient under this Article.

Return and readmission of patients absent without leaveN.I.

29.—(1) Where a patient who is for the time being liable to be detained under this Part in a hospital—

(a)absents himself from the hospital without leave granted under Article 15; or

(b)fails to return to the hospital on any occasion on which, or at the expiration of any period for which, leave of absence was granted to him under that Article, or upon being recalled thereunder; or

(c)absents himself without permission from any place where he is required to reside in accordance with conditions imposed on the grant of leave of absence under that Article;

he may, subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), be taken into custody and returned to the hospital or place by any officer on the staff of the hospital, by any constable or approved social worker or by any person authorised in writing by the responsible[F90 authority].

(2) Where a patient who is for the time being subject to guardianship under this Part absents himself without the leave of his guardian from the place at which he is required by the guardian to reside, he may, subject to paragraph (3), be taken into custody and returned to that place by any constable or approved social worker or by any person authorised in writing by the guardian or by the responsible[F90 authority].

(3) A patient shall not be taken into custody under this Article after the expiration of the period of 28 days beginning with the first day of his absence without leave; and a patient who has not returned or been taken into custody under this Article within that period shall cease to be liable to be detained or subject to guardianship, as the case may be, at the expiration of that period.

(4) A patient shall not be taken into custody under this Article if the period for which he is liable to be detained is that specified in Article 7(2) or (3)[F91, 7A(2)] or Article 9(4), (7) or (8) and that period has expired.

(5) In this Order “absent without leave” means absent from any hospital or other place and liable to be taken into custody and returned under this Article.

Special provisions as to patients absent without leaveN.I.

30.—(1) If on the day on which, apart from this Article, a patient would cease to be liable to be detained or subject to guardianship under this Part or within the period of 7 days ending with that day, the patient is absent without leave, he shall not cease to be so liable or subject—

(a)in any case, until the expiration of the period during which he can be taken into custody under Article 29, or the day on which he returns or is returned to the hospital or place where he ought to be, whichever is the earlier; and

(b)if he returns or is returned as aforesaid within the period during which he can be taken into custody under Article 29, until the expiration of the period of 7 days beginning with the day on which he returns or is returned as aforesaid.

(2) Where the period for which a patient is liable to be detained or subject to guardianship is extended by virtue of this Article, any examination to be made, or report to be furnished, under Article 9, 12, 13 or 23 may be made or furnished within that period as so extended.

(3) Where the authority for detention or guardianship of a patient is renewed by virtue of this Article after the day on which, apart from this Article, that authority would have expired under this Part, the renewal shall take effect as from that day.

Special provisions as to patients sentenced to imprisonment, etc.N.I.

31.—(1) Where a patient who is liable to be detained for treatment or subject to guardianship under this Part—

(a)is detained in custody in pursuance of any sentence or order passed or made by a court in the United Kingdom (including an order committing or remanding him in custody); and

(b)is so detained in custody for a period exceeding, or for successive periods exceeding in the aggregate, 6 months;

he shall cease to be so liable or subject at the expiration of that period.

(2) Where any such patient is detained in custody as mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) but does not cease under that paragraph to be liable to be detained for treatment or subject to guardianship under this Part, then—

(a)if apart from this paragraph he would have ceased to be liable to be detained for treatment or subject to guardianship under this Part on or before the day on which he is discharged from custody, he shall not cease and shall be deemed not to have ceased to be so liable or subject until the end of that day; and

(b)in any case, Articles 29 and 30 shall apply in relation to him as if he had absented himself without leave on that day.

Functions of nearest relative of patientN.I.

Definition of “nearest relative”N.I.

32.—(1) For the purposes of this Order “relative” means any of the following, that is to say—

(a)spouse [F92or civil partner] ;

(b)child;

(c)parent;

(d)brother or sister;

(e)grandparent;

(f)grandchild;

(g)uncle or aunt;

(h)nephew or niece.

(2) In deducing relationships for the purposes of this Article, any relationship of the half-blood shall be treated as a relationship of the whole blood and an illegitimate person shall be treated as the legitimate child of

[F93(a)his mother, and

(b)if his father has parental responsibility for him within the meaning of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, his father.]

(3) In this Order, subject to the provisions of this Article and to the following provisions of this Part, the “nearest relative” means the person first listed in paragraph (1) who is caring for the patient, or was so caring immediately before the admission of the patient to a hospital or his reception into guardianship, failing whom the person first so listed who is for the time being surviving, relatives of the whole blood being preferred to relatives of the same description of the half-blood, and the elder or eldest of two or more relatives listed in any sub-paragraph of that paragraph being preferred to the other or others of those relatives, regardless of sex.

(4) Where the person who, under paragraph (3), would be the nearest relative of a patient—

(a)in the case of a patient ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or the Republic of Ireland, is not so resident; or

(b)being the spouse [F94or civil partner] of the patient, is permanently separated from the patient, either by agreement or under an order of a court, or has deserted or has been deserted by the patient for a period which has not come to an end; or

(c)not being the spouse[F95, civil partner] or parent of the patient, is for the time being under 18 years of age;F93. . .

the nearest relative of the patient shall be ascertained without regard to that person.

(5) In this Article “spouse” includes a person who is living with the patient as if he or she were the spouse of the patient (or, if the patient is for the time being an in-patient in a hospital, was so living until the patient was admitted), and has been or had been so living for a period of not less than 6 months; but a person shall not be treated by virtue of this paragraph as the nearest relative of a married patient [F96or a patient who has a civil partner] unless the spouse [F97or civil partner] of the patient is disregarded by virtue of paragraph (4)(b).

(6) A person, other than a relative, with whom the patient ordinarily resides (or, if the patient is for the time being an in-patient in a hospital, last ordinarily resided before he was admitted), and with whom he has or had been ordinarily residing for a period of not less than 5 years, shall be treated for the purposes of this Order as if he were a relative but—

(a)shall be treated for the purposes of paragraph (3) as if mentioned last in paragraph (1); and

(b)shall not be treated by virtue of this paragraph as the nearest relative of a married patient [F98or a patient who has a civil partner] unless the spouse [F99or civil partner] of the patient is disregarded by virtue of paragraph (4)(b).

(7) References to the nearest relative of a patient in any provision of this Order requiring the responsible[F100 authority] to inform the nearest relative of a patient of any matter or furnish the nearest relative of a patient with any document shall be construed as references to the person (if any) appearing to the responsible[F100 authority] to be the nearest relative of the patient.

[F101Children and young persons in careN.I.

33.  Where a patient who is a child or young person is in the care of [F102an] [F103HSC trust] by virtue of a care order within the meaning of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, the F104... trust shall be deemed to be the nearest relative of the patient in preference to any person except the patient's [F105spouse or civil partner] (if any).]

Minors under guardianship, etc.N.I.

34.—[F106(1) Where—

(a)a guardian has been appointed for a person who has not attained the age of 18 years; or

(b)a residence order (as defined by Article 8 of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995) is in force with respect to such a person,

the guardian (or guardians, where there is more than one) or the person named in the residence order shall, to the exclusion of any other person, be deemed to be his nearest relative.]

(2) Article 32(4) shall apply in relation to a person who is, or who is one of the persons, deemed to be the nearest relative of a patient by virtue of this Article, as it applies in relation to a person who would be the nearest relative under paragraph (3) of that Article.

[F106(3) In this Article "guardian" does not include a guardian under this Part.]

Assignment of functions by nearest relativeN.I.

35.—(1) The nearest relative of any patient who is liable to be detained or subject to guardianship under this Part may assign his functions as such under this Order to any person (other than the patient) who indicates in writing his willingness to exercise those functions.

(2) Any person who wishes to assign, under this Article, his functions as nearest relative under this Order shall give notice of the assignment in the prescribed form to the responsible[F107 authority].

(3) On the receipt by the responsible[F107 authority] of the notice referred to in paragraph (2), the provisions of this Order shall, subject to Article 36(5), apply in relation to the patient as if for any reference to the nearest relative of the patient there were substituted a reference to the person to whom the nearest relative has assigned his functions under this Order and (without prejudice to Articles 36 and 37) shall so apply notwithstanding that the person who was the patient's nearest relative at the time of the assignment is no longer his nearest relative.

Appointment by county court of acting nearest relativeN.I.

36.—(1) The county court may, upon application made in accordance with this Article in respect of a patient, by order direct that the functions under this Order of the nearest relative of the patient shall, during the continuance in force of the order, be exercisable by the applicant, or by any other person specified in the application, being a person who, in the opinion of the court, is a proper person to act as the patient's nearest relative and is willing to do so.

(2) An order under this Article may be made on the application of—

(a)any relative of the patient;

(b)any other person with whom the patient is residing (or, if the patient is then an in-patient in a hospital, was last residing before he was admitted); or

(c)an approved social worker,

but in relation to an application made by an approved social worker paragraph (1) shall have effect as if for the words “the applicant” there were substituted the words “ the responsible [F108authority] ”.

(3) An application for an order under this Article may be made upon any of the following grounds—

(a)that the patient has no nearest relative within the meaning of this Order, or that it is not reasonably practicable to ascertain whether he has such a relative, or who that relative is;

(b)that the nearest relative of the patient is incapable of acting as such by reason of mental disorder or other illness;

(c)that the nearest relative of the patient unreasonably objects to the making of an application for assessment or a guardianship application in respect of the patient; or

(d)that the nearest relative of the patient has exercised without due regard to the welfare of the patient or the interests of the public his power to discharge the patient from hospital or guardianship under this Part, or is likely to do so.

(4) An order made on the ground specified in paragraph (3)(a) or (b) may specify a period for which it is to continue in force unless previously discharged under Article 37.

(5) While an order made under this Article is in force, the provisions of this Order (other than this Article, Article 37 and Article 71(5)) shall apply in relation to the patient as if for any reference to the nearest relative of the patient there were substituted a reference to the person having the functions of that relative and (without prejudice to Article 37) shall so apply notwithstanding that the person who was the patient's nearest relative when the order was made is no longer his nearest relative.

Discharge and variation of orders under Article 36N.I.

37.—(1) An order made under Article 36 in respect of a patient may be discharged by the county court upon application made—

(a)by the person having the functions of the nearest relative of the patient by virtue of the order;

(b)where the order was made on the ground specified in paragraph (3)(a) or (b) of that Article, or where the person who was the nearest relative of the patient when the order was made has ceased to be his nearest relative, by the nearest relative of the patient.

(2) An order made under Article 36 in respect of a patient may be varied by the county court, on the application of the person having the functions of the nearest relative by virtue of the order or on the application of an approved social worker, by substituting for the first-mentioned person any person who, in the opinion of the court, is a proper person to exercise those functions, being a person who is willing to do so.

(3) If the person having the functions of the nearest relative of a patient by virtue of an order under Article 36 dies, paragraphs (1) and (2) shall apply as if for any reference to that person there were substituted a reference to any relative of the patient, and until the order is discharged or varied under those paragraphs the functions of the nearest relative under this Order shall not be exercisable by any person.

(4) An order under Article 36 shall, unless previously discharged, cease to have effect at the expiration of the period, if any, specified under paragraph (4) of that Article or where no such period is specified—

(a)if the patient was on the date of the order liable to be detained for treatment or subject to guardianship under this Part, or becomes so liable or subject within the period of 3 months beginning with that date, when he ceases to be so liable or subject (otherwise than on being transferred by virtue of Article 28);

(b)if the patient was not on the date of the order, and has not within the said period of 3 months become, so liable or subject, at the expiration of that period.

(5) The discharge or variation under this Article of an order under Article 36 shall not affect the validity of anything previously done in pursuance of the order.

Procedure on application to county courtN.I.

38.  County court rules which relate to applications authorised by this Part to be made to a county court may make provision—

(a)for the hearing and determination of such applications otherwise than in open court;

(b)for the admission on the hearing of such applications of evidence of such descriptions as may be specified in the rules notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any statutory provision or rule of law relating to the admissibility of evidence;

(c)for the visiting and interviewing of patients in private by or under the directions of the court.

MiscellaneousN.I.

Special provisions as to wards of courtN.I.

39.—(1) An application for assessment in respect of a minor who is a ward of court may be made under this Part with the leave of the court; and Article 5(3) to (5) shall not apply in relation to an application so made.

(2) Where a minor being a ward of court is liable to be detained in hospital under this Part, any power exercisable under this Order in relation to the patient by his nearest relative shall be exercisable by or with the leave of the court.

(3) Nothing in this Part shall be construed as authorising the making of a guardianship application in respect of a minor who is a ward of court, or the transfer into guardianship of any such minor.

Duty of approved social worker to make application for assessment or guardianshipN.I.

40.—(1) It shall be the duty of an approved social worker to make an application for assessment or a guardianship application in respect of a patient within the area of the [F109F110... authorised [F111HSC trust]] by which that officer is appointed in any case where—

(a)he is satisfied that such an application ought to be made; and

(b)he is of opinion, having regard to any wishes expressed by relatives of the patient or any other relevant circumstances, that it is necessary or proper for the application to be made by him.

(2) Before making an application under paragraph (1) in respect of a patient, an approved social worker shall interview the patient in a suitable manner and satisfy himself that detention in a hospital or guardianship (as the case may be) is in all the circumstances of the case the most appropriate way of providing the care and medical treatment of which the patient stands in need.

(3) An application under paragraph (1) by an approved social worker may be made outside the area of the [F109F112... authorised [F111HSC trust]] by which he is appointed.

(4) It shall be the duty of [F109[F113an] authorised [F111HSC trust]], if so required by the nearest relative of a patient residing in its area, to direct an approved social worker as soon as practicable to take the patient's case into consideration under paragraph (1) with a view to making an application under that paragraph in respect of him; and if in any such case that approved social worker decides not to make an application he shall inform the nearest relative of his reasons in writing.

(5) Nothing in this Article shall be construed as authorising or requiring an application to be made by an approved social worker in contravention of Article 5(3) to (5) or Article 19(3) to (6) or as restricting the power of an approved social worker to make any application under this Order.

F114(6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Applications, recommendations and reports under Part IIN.I.

41.  Any application for assessment, guardianship application, recommendation or report which appears to be duly made under this Part may be acted upon without further proof of the signature or qualification of the person by whom the application, recommendation or report is made or given, or of any matter of fact or opinion stated therein.

PART IIIN.I.PATIENTS CONCERNED IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS OR UNDER SENTENCE

Remands to hospitalN.I.

Remand to hospital for report on accused's mental conditionN.I.

42.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Article, the Crown Court or a court of summary jurisdiction may remand an accused person into the care of [F115such authorised HSC trust as it may specify] for admission to hospital for a report on his mental condition.

(2) For the purposes of this Article an accused person is—

(a)in relation to the Crown Court, any person who is awaiting trial before the court for an offence punishable with imprisonment or who has been arraigned before the court for such an offence and has not yet been sentenced or otherwise dealt with for the offence on which he has been arraigned;

(b)in relation to a court of summary jurisdiction, any person who has been convicted by the court of an offence punishable on summary conviction with imprisonment and any person charged with such an offence if the court is satisfied that he did the act or made the omission charged or if he has consented to the exercise by the court of the powers conferred by this Article.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), the powers conferred by this Article may be exercised if—

(a)the court is satisfied, on the oral evidence of a medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of Part II by [F116RQIA], that there is reason to suspect that the accused person is suffering from mental illness or severe mental impairment; and

(b)the court is of the opinion that it would be impracticable for a report on his mental condition to be made if he were remanded on bail;

but those powers shall not be exercised by the Crown Court in respect of a person who has been convicted before the court if the sentence for the offence of which he has been convicted is fixed by law.

(4) The court shall not remand an accused person under this Article unless an opportunity has been given to [F117the trust which it proposes to specify] to make representations to the court concerning the remand.

(5) Where a court has remanded an accused person under this Article, it may further remand him if it appears to the court, on the written or oral evidence of the medical practitioner responsible for making the report, that a further remand is necessary for completing the assessment of the accused person's mental condition.

(6) The power of further remanding an accused person under this Article may be exercised by the court without his being brought before the court if he is represented by counsel or a solicitor and his counsel or solicitor is given an opportunity of being heard.

(7) An accused person shall not be remanded or further remanded under this Article for more than 28 days at a time [F118or for more than 12 weeks in all]; and the court may at any time terminate the remand if it appears to the court that it is appropriate to do so.

(8) An accused person remanded under this Article shall be entitled to obtain at his own expense an independent report on his mental condition from a medical practitioner chosen by him and to apply to the court on the basis of it for his remand to be terminated under paragraph (7).

(9) Where an accused person is remanded under this Article—

(a)it shall be the duty of [F119the trust] to designate the hospital to which the accused person is to be admitted;

(b)the court may, pending his admission to hospital, give directions for his conveyance to and detention in a place of safety;

(c)a constable or any other person directed to do so by the court shall convey the accused person to the hospital designated by [F120the trust] within the period of 7 days beginning with the date of the remand; and

(d)[F121F122... the authorised [F123HSC trust] managing that hospital] shall admit him within that period and thereafter detain him in accordance with the provisions of this Article.

(10) If an accused person absconds from a hospital to which he has been remanded under this Article, or while being conveyed to or from that hospital, he may be arrested without warrant by any constable and shall, after being arrested, be brought as soon as practicable before the court that remanded him; and the court may thereupon terminate the remand and deal with him in any way in which it would have dealt with him if he had not been remanded under this Article.

Remand to hospital for treatmentN.I.

43.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Article, the Crown Court may, instead of remanding an accused person in custody, remand him into the care of [F124such authorised HSC trust as it may specify] for admission to hospital if satisfied, on the oral evidence of a medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of Part II by [F125RQIA] and on the written or oral evidence of one other medical practitioner, that he is suffering from mental illness or severe mental impairment of a nature or degree which warrants his detention in hospital for medical treatment.

(2) For the purposes of this Article an accused person is any person who is in custody awaiting trial before the Crown Court for an offence punishable with imprisonment other than an offence the sentence for which is fixed by law, or who at any time before sentence is in custody in the course of a trial before that court for such an offence.

(3) The court shall not remand an accused person under this Article unless an opportunity has been given to [F126the trust which it proposes to specify] to make representations to the court concerning the remand.

(4) Where a court has remanded an accused person under this Article, it may further remand him if it appears to the court, on the written or oral evidence of the responsible medical officer, that a further remand is warranted.

(5) Paragraphs (6) to (10) of Article 42 shall have effect in relation to a remand under this Article as they have effect in relation to a remand under that Article.

Hospital and guardianship ordersN.I.

Powers of courts to order hospital admission or guardianshipN.I.

44.—(1) Where a person is convicted before the Crown Court of an offence punishable with imprisonment other than an offence the sentence for which is fixed by law, or is convicted by a court of summary jurisdiction of an offence punishable on summary conviction with imprisonment, then—

(a)if the conditions mentioned in paragraph (2) are satisfied, the court may by order (in this Order referred to as a “hospital order”) commit him to the care of [F127such authorised HSC trust as it may specify] for admission to hospital; or

(b)if the conditions mentioned in paragraph (3) are satisfied, the court may by order (in this Order referred to as a “guardianship order”) place him under the guardianship of F128... [F129 an authorised [F130HSC trust]] or of such other person approved by F128... [F129 an authorised [F130HSC trust]] as may be specified in the order.

[F131(1A) In the case of an offence the sentence for which would otherwise fall to be imposed—

(a)under Article 70(2) of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (NI 3),

(b)under paragraph 2(4) or (5) of Schedule 2 to the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 (c. 38), or

(c)under Article 13 [F132, 13A] or 14 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008,

nothing in those provisions shall prevent a court from making an order under paragraph (1) for the admission of the offender to a hospital

(1B) References in paragraph (1A) to a sentence falling to be imposed under any of the provisions mentioned in that paragraph are to be read in accordance with Article 4(2) of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008.]

(2) The conditions referred to in paragraph (1)(a) are that—

(a)the court is satisfied on the oral evidence of a medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of Part II by [F133RQIA] and on the written or oral evidence of one other medical practitioner that the offender is suffering from mental illness or severe mental impairment of a nature or degree which warrants his detention in hospital for medical treatment; and

(b)the court is of opinion, having regard to all the circumstances, including the nature of the offence and the character and antecedents of the offender, and to the other available methods of dealing with him, that the most suitable means of dealing with the case is by means of a hospital order.

(3) The conditions referred to in paragraph (1)(b) are that—

(a)the offender has attained the age of 16 years;

(b)the court is satisfied on the oral evidence of a medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of Part II by [F133RQIA] and on the written or oral evidence of one other medical practitioner that the offender is suffering from mental illness or severe mental handicap of a nature or degree which warrants his reception into guardianship;

(c)the court is satisfied on the written or oral evidence of an approved social worker that it is necessary in the interests of the welfare of the patient that he should be received into guardianship; and

(d)the court is of opinion, having regard to all the circumstances, including the nature of the offence and the character and antecedents of the offender, and to the other available methods of dealing with him, that the most suitable means of dealing with the case is by means of a guardianship order.

(4) Where a person is charged before a court of summary jurisdiction with any act or omission as an offence and the court would have power, on convicting him of that offence, to make an order under paragraph (1) then, if the court is satisfied that the accused did the act or made the omission charged, the court may, if it thinks fit, make such an order without convicting him.

(5) A hospital order shall not be made under this Article by a court unless an opportunity has been given to [F134the trust which it proposes to specify] to make representations to the court concerning the making of such an order.

(6) A guardianship order placing a patient under the guardianship of any person shall not be made under this Article unless the court is satisfied that that person is willing to receive the patient into guardianship.

(7) A hospital order or guardianship order shall specify the form or forms of mental disorder referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (2) or sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (3) from which, upon the evidence taken into account under that sub-paragraph, the offender is found by the court to be suffering; and no such order shall be made unless the offender is [F135described by each of the practitioners] [F135described by the practitioner] whose evidence is taken into account under that sub-paragraph as suffering from the same form of mental disorder, [F136whether or not he is also described by either of them ] [F136whether or not he is also described by the practitioner] as suffering from another form.

(8) Where an order is made under this Article, the court shall not pass sentence of imprisonment or impose a fine or make a probation order in respect of the offence, but may make any other order which the court has power to make apart from this Article; and for the purposes of this paragraph “sentence of imprisonment” includes any sentence or order for detention, including an order under [F137 Article 39 of the Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 sending a child under the age of 17 to a juvenile justice centre.]

Interim hospital ordersN.I.

45.—(1) Where a person is convicted before the Crown Court of an offence punishable with imprisonment other than an offence the sentence for which is fixed by law, or is convicted by a court of summary jurisdiction of an offence punishable on summary conviction with imprisonment, and the court before or by which he is convicted is satisfied, on the oral evidence of a medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of Part II by [F138RQIA] and on the written or oral evidence of one other medical practitioner—

(a)that the offender is suffering from mental illness or severe mental impairment; and

(b)that there is reason to suppose that the mental disorder from which the offender is suffering is such that it may warrant a hospital order being made in his case,

the court may, before making a hospital order or dealing with him in some other way, make an order (in this Order referred to as “an interim hospital order”) committing him to the care of [F139such authorised HSC trust as it may specify] for admission to hospital and detention there in accordance with this Article.

(2) In the case of an offender who is subject to an interim hospital order the court may make a hospital order without his being brought before the court if he is represented by counsel or a solicitor and his counsel or solicitor is given an opportunity of being heard.

(3) An interim hospital order shall not be made under this Article by a court unless an opportunity has been given to [F140the trust which it proposes to specify] to make representations to the court concerning the making of such an order.

(4) An interim hospital order—

(a)shall be in force for such period, not exceeding 12 weeks, as the court may specify when making the order; but

(b)may be renewed for further periods of not more than 28 days at a time if it appears to the court, on the written or oral evidence of the responsible medical officer, that the continuation of the order is warranted;

but no such order shall continue in force for more than 6 months in all and the court shall terminate the order if it makes a hospital order in respect of the offender or decides after considering the written or oral evidence of the responsible medical officer to deal with the offender in some other way.

(5) The power of renewing an interim hospital order may be exercised without the offender being brought before the court if he is represented by counsel or a solicitor and his counsel or solicitor is given an opportunity of being heard.

(6) If an offender absconds from a hospital in which he is detained in pursuance of an interim hospital order, or while being conveyed to or from such a hospital, he may be arrested without warrant by a constable and shall, after being arrested, be brought as soon as practicable before the court that made the order; and the court may thereupon terminate the order and deal with him in any way in which it could have dealt with him if no such order had been made.

Effect of hospital orders, guardianship orders and interim hospital ordersN.I.

46.—(1) Where a court makes a hospital order in respect of a patient, it shall be the duty of [F141the trust specified by the court] to give effect to the order by designating a hospital for the purposes of paragraph (2)(a); [F142 and F143... the authorised [F144HSC trust] managing that hospital shall receive the patient accordingly.]

(2) A hospital order shall be sufficient authority—

(a)for a constable, an approved social worker or any other person directed to do so by the court to convey the patient within the period of 28 days beginning with the date of the order to such hospital as [F145the trust] may designate; and

(b)[F142for F146... the authorised [F144HSC trust] managing the hospital] to admit him at any time within that period and thereafter detain him in accordance with the provisions of this Order.

(3) Where an interim hospital order is made in respect of an offender—

(a)it shall be the duty of [F147the trust] to give effect to the order by designating the hospital to which the offender is to be admitted;

(b)a constable or any other person directed to do so by the court shall convey the offender to the hospital designated by [F147the trust] within the period of 28 days beginning with the date of the order; and

(c)[F142F148... the authorised [F144HSC trust] managing that hospital] shall admit him within that period and thereafter detain him in accordance with the provisions of Article 45.

(4) The court by which a hospital order or an interim hospital order is made may give such directions as it thinks fit for the conveyance of the patient to a place of safety and his detention therein pending his admission to hospital [F149within the period of 28 days referred to in] [F149in accordance with] paragraph (2)(a) or, as the case may be, paragraph (3)(b).

(5) A guardianship order shall confer on the F150... [F142 authorised [F144HSC trust]] or person therein named as guardian the same powers as a guardianship application made and accepted under Part II.

(6) A patient who is—

(a)admitted to a hospital in pursuance of a hospital order shall be treated for the purposes of the provisions of Part II mentioned in Part I of Schedule 2 as if he were detained for treatment and his date of admission were the date of the order, but subject to any modifications of those provisions specified in that Part of Schedule 2;

(b)placed under guardianship by a guardianship order shall be treated for the purposes of the provisions of Part II mentioned in Part I of Schedule 2 as if he had been received into guardianship on the date of the order in pursuance of a guardianship application duly made under Part II, but subject to any modifications of those provisions specified in that Part of Schedule 2.

(7) Where a patient is admitted to a hospital in pursuance of a hospital order, or placed under guardianship by a guardianship order, any previous application, medical report, hospital order or guardianship order by virtue of which he was liable to be detained in a hospital or subject to guardianship shall cease to have effect, but if either of the first-mentioned orders, or the conviction to which it relates, is quashed on appeal, this paragraph shall not apply and Article 31 shall have effect as if, during any period for which the patient was liable to be detained or subject to guardianship under the order, he had been detained in custody as mentioned in that Article.

Restriction ordersN.I.

Powers of court to restrict discharge from hospitalN.I.

47.—(1) Where—

(a)a court makes a hospital order in respect of any person; and

(b)it appears to the court, having regard to the nature of the offence, the antecedents of the person and the risk of his committing further offences if set at large, that it is necessary for the protection of the public from serious harm to do so,

the court may, subject to paragraphs (2) to (5), further order that the person shall be subject to the special restrictions set out in this Article, either without limit of time or during such period as may be specified in the order; and an order under this Article shall be known as “a restriction order”.

(2) The special restrictions applicable to a patient in respect of whom a restriction order is in force are as follows, that is to say—

(a)none of the provisions of Part II relating to the duration, renewal and expiration of authority for the detention of patients shall apply, and the patient shall continue to be liable to be detained by virtue of the relevant hospital order until he is absolutely discharged under Article 48, 78, 79 or 80;

(b)no application or reference shall be made to the Review Tribunal in respect of the patient under Articles 71 to 74;

(c)the following powers shall be exercisable only with the consent of the Secretary of State, namely—

(i)power to grant leave of absence to the patient under Article 15;

(ii)power to transfer the patient under Article 28;

(d)the power of the Secretary of State to recall the patient under Article 15 and the power to take the patient into custody and return him under Article 29 may be exercised at any time;

and in relation to any such patient Article 46(6)(a) shall have effect as if it referred to Part II of Schedule 2 instead of Part I of that Schedule.

(3) A hospital order shall not cease to have effect under Article 46(7) if a restriction order in respect of the patient is in force at the material time.

(4) Where a restriction order in respect of a patient ceases to have effect while the relevant hospital order continues in force, Article 46 and Part I of Schedule 2 shall apply to the patient as if he had been admitted to the hospital in which he is then liable to be detained in pursuance of a hospital order (without a restriction order) made on the date on which the restriction order ceased to have effect.

(5) While a person is subject to a restriction order the responsible medical officer shall at such intervals (not exceeding one year) as the Secretary of State may direct examine and report to the Secretary of State on that person; and every report shall contain such particulars as the Secretary of State may require.

Powers of Secretary of State in respect of patients subject to restriction ordersN.I.

48.—(1) If the Secretary of State is satisfied that in the case of any patient a restriction order is no longer required for the protection of the public from serious harm he may direct that the patient shall cease to be subject to the special restrictions set out in Article 47(2); and where the Secretary of State so directs, the restriction order shall cease to have effect, and Article 47(4) shall have effect accordingly.

(2) At any time while a restriction order is in force in respect of a patient, the Secretary of State may, if he thinks fit, by warrant discharge the patient from hospital, either absolutely or subject to conditions; and where a patient is absolutely discharged under this paragraph, he shall thereupon cease to be liable to be detained by virtue of the relevant hospital order, and accordingly the restriction order shall cease to have effect.

(3) The Secretary of State may at any time during the continuance in force of a restriction order in respect of a patient who has been conditionally discharged under paragraph (2) by warrant recall the patient to such hospital as may be specified in the warrant; and thereupon—

(a)if the hospital so specified is not the hospital from which the patient was conditionally discharged, sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (2) of Article 46 shall have effect as if the hospital specified in the warrant were substituted for the hospital designated by [F151the HSC trust] under sub-paragraph (a) of that paragraph; and

(b)in any case, the patient shall be treated for the purposes of Article 29 as if he had absented himself without leave from the hospital specified in the warrant, and if the restriction order was made for a specified period, that period shall in any event be deemed not to have expired until the patient returns to hospital or is returned to hospital under that Article.

(4) If a restriction order in respect of a patient ceases to have effect after the patient has been conditionally discharged under paragraph (2), the patient shall, unless previously recalled under paragraph (3), be deemed to be absolutely discharged on the date when the order ceases to have effect, and accordingly shall cease to be liable to be detained by virtue of the relevant hospital order.

(5) The Secretary of State may, if satisfied that the attendance at any place in Northern Ireland of a patient who is subject to a restriction order is desirable in the interests of justice or for the purposes of any public inquiry, direct him to be taken to that place; and where a patient is directed under this paragraph to be taken to any place he shall, unless the Secretary of State otherwise directs, be kept in custody while being so taken, while at that place and while being taken back to the hospital in which he is liable to be detained.

Procedure during trial on indictmentN.I.

Procedure in relation to unfitness to be triedN.I.

49.—(1) The following provisions of this Article apply where, on the trial of a person charged on indictment with the commission of an offence, the question arises (at the instance of the defence or otherwise) whether the accused is unfit to be tried (in this Article referred to as “the question of fitness to be tried”).

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the question of fitness to be tried shall be determined as soon as it arises.

(3) If, having regard to the nature of the supposed mental condition of the accused, the court is of opinion that it is expedient so to do and in the interests of the accused, the court may—

(a)postpone consideration of the question of fitness to be tried until any time up to the opening of the case for the defence; and

(b)if, before the said question falls to be determined, the jury returns a verdict of acquittal on the count or each of the counts on which the accused is being tried, that question shall not be determined.

(4) The question of fitness to be tried shall be determined[F152 by the court without a jury].

[F153(4A) [F152The court] shall not make a determination under paragraph (4) except on the oral evidence of a medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of Part II by [F154RQIA] and on the written or oral evidence of one other medical practitioner.]

(9) In this Article and[F153 Articles 49A, 50A and 51(6)] “unfit to be tried” includes unfit to plead.

[F155Finding that the accused did the act or made the omission charged against himN.I.

49A.—(1) This Article applies where in accordance with Article 49(4) it is determined by a[F156 court] that the accused is unfit to be tried.

(2) The trial shall not proceed or further proceed but it shall be determined by a jury—

(a)on the evidence (if any) already given in the trial; and

(b)on such evidence as may be adduced or further adduced by the prosecution, or adduced by a person appointed by the court under this Article to put the case for the defence,

whether it is satisfied, as respects the count or each of the counts on which the accused was to be or was being tried, that he did the act or made the omission charged against him as the offence.

(3) If as respects that count or any of those counts the jury is satisfied as mentioned in paragraph (2), it shall make a finding that the accused did the act or made the omission charged against him.

(4) If as respects that count or any of those counts the jury is not so satisfied, it shall return a verdict of acquittal as if on the count in question the trial had proceeded to a conclusion.

[F156(5) Where the question of fitness to be tried was determined after arraignment of the accused, the determination under paragraph (2) is to be made by the jury by whom he was being tried.]]

Procedure in relation to finding of insanityN.I.

50.—(1) Where upon the trial on indictment of any person charged with the commission of an offence—

(a)[F157oral evidence of a medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of Part II by [F158RQIA] and on the written or oral evidence of one other medical practitioner] is given that the person charged was an insane person at the time the offence was committed; and

(b)the jury finds that although the person charged did the act or made the omission charged, he was an insane person at that time,

the court shall direct a finding to be recorded to the effect that the person is not guilty of the offence charged on the ground of insanity.

(4) In this Article “insane person” and “insanity” have the meanings assigned by section 1 of the [1966 c. 20 (N.I.)] Criminal Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 1966.

AppealsN.I.

[F159Powers to deal with persons not guilty by reason of insanity or unfit to be tried, etc.N.I.

50A.—(1) This Article applies where—

(a)a finding is recorded that the accused is not guilty by reason of insanity; or

(b)findings are recorded that the accused is unfit to be tried and that he did the act or made the omission charged against him.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) to (5), the court shall either—

(a)make an order that the accused be admitted to hospital; or

(b)make in respect of the accused such one of the following orders as the court thinks most suitable in all the circumstances of the case, namely—

(i)a guardianship order;

(ii)subject to and in accordance with Part II of Schedule 2A, a supervision and treatment order within the meaning of that Schedule; and

(iii)an order for his absolute discharge.

(3) A person who is admitted to a hospital in pursuance of an order under paragraph (2)(a) shall be treated for the purposes of this Order—

(a)as if he had been so admitted in pursuance of a hospital order made on the date on which the order under paragraph (2)(a) was made; and

(b)if the court so directs, as if a restriction order had been made, either without limit of time or during such period as may be specified in the direction.

(4) An order shall not be made under paragraph (2)(a) by a court unless an opportunity has been given to [F160the authorised HSC trust in which the hospital is vested] to make representations to the court concerning the making of such an order.

(5) A guardianship order placing a patient under the guardianship of any person shall not be made under paragraph (2)(b)(i) unless the court is satisfied that that person is willing to receive the patient into guardianship.

(6) Where the offence to which the findings relate is an offence the sentence for which is fixed by law—

(a)paragraphs (2)(b), (4) and (5) shall not apply; and

(b)the court shall give a direction under paragraph (3)(b) without specifying any period.

(7) Where the Secretary of State is notified by the responsible medical officer that a person detained in a hospital in pursuance of an order made by virtue of paragraph (1)(b) no longer requires treatment for mental disorder, the Secretary of State may remit that person for trial—

(a)to the Crown Court at the place where, but for the order, he would have been tried; or

(b)to a prison; or

(c)to a remand centre; or

[F161(d)to a juvenile justice centre;]

F162and on his arrival at the Crown Court, prison, remand centreF163 or[F161 juvenile justice centre] the order shall cease to have effect.

(8) The provisions of Schedule 2A shall have effect with respect to supervision and treatment orders.]

AppealsN.I.

51.—(1) On any appeal to any court by a person against a restriction order, the court shall have the like powers as if the appeal were against the hospital order in respect of him as well as against the restriction order.

(2) On any appeal to any court by a person against a hospital order[F164, a supervision and treatment order] or a guardianship order, the court shall have the like powers as if the appeal were against any further order made by the court which made the hospital order[F164 supervision and treatment order] or guardianship order, as well as against the hospital order[F164 supervision and treatment order] or guardianship order.

(3) An appeal by a child or young person in respect of whom a hospital order[F164, supervision and treatment order] or guardianship order has been made, whether the appeal is against the order or against the finding upon which the order was made, may be brought by him or by his parent or guardian on his behalf.

(4) Where a hospital order[F164, supervision and treatment order], guardianship order or restriction order has been made by a court in respect of a person charged before it without convicting him, he shall have the same right of appeal against that order as if it had been made on his conviction and accordingly any such order shall—

(a)for the purposes of section 8 of the [1980 c. 47] Criminal Appeal (Northern Ireland) Act 1980 and Article 140 of the [1981 NI 26] Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 be treated as if it were an order made on conviction;

(b)be a determination of the proceedings in which the order was made for the purposes of Article 146 of that Order.

(5) On any such appeal as is referred to in paragraph (4), the Court of Appeal or the county court shall have the same powers as if the appeal had been against both conviction and sentence.

(6) The Criminal Appeal (Northern Ireland) Act 1980 shall have effect subject to the amendments set out in Part I of Schedule 5, being amendments for the purpose of—

(a)conferring a right of appeal to the Court of Appeal against a finding that a person charged on indictment with the commission of an offence is unfit to be tried;

(b)conferring on the Secretary of State a power to refer to the Court of Appeal the case of any person so charged who has been found unfit to be tried;

(c)empowering the Court of Appeal to make a hospital order where on an appeal the Court is of opinion that the appellant should have been found unfit to be tried; and

(d)otherwise amending that Act in consequence of the provisions of this Order.

Art. 52 rep. by 1996 c. 46

Transfer to hospital of prisoners, etc.N.I.

Removal to hospital of persons serving sentences of imprisonment, etc.N.I.

53.—(1) If in the case of a person serving a sentence of imprisonment, the Secretary of State is satisfied by written reports from at least two medical practitioners, one of whom is a medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of Part II by [F165RQIA]—

(a)that the person is suffering from mental illness or severe mental impairment; and

(b)that the mental disorder from which the person is suffering is of a nature or degree which warrants his detention in hospital for medical treatment;

the Secretary of State may, if he is of opinion, having regard to the public interest and all the circumstances, that it is expedient to do so, by warrant direct that that person be admitted to hospital.

(2) A direction under this Article (in this Order referred to as a “transfer direction”) shall cease to have effect at the expiration of the period of [F16614 days] [F16628 days] beginning with the date on which it is given, unless within that period the person with respect to whom it was given has been received into hospital.

(3) A transfer direction with respect to any person shall have the same effect as a hospital order made in his case.

(4) A transfer direction shall specify the form or forms of mental disorder referred to in sub-paragraph (a) of paragraph (1) from which, upon the reports taken into account under that paragraph, the patient is found by the Secretary of State to be suffering; and no such direction shall be given unless the patient is described in each of those reports as suffering from the same form of mental disorder, whether or not he is also described in either of them as suffering from another form.

(5) References in this Part to a person serving a sentence of imprisonment include references—

(a)to a person detained in pursuance of any sentence or order for detention made by a court in criminal proceedings, including an order under [F167 Article 39 of the Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 sending a child to a juvenile justice centre] but not including an order under any statutory provision to which Article 52 applies;

(b)to a person committed to custody for failure to comply with an order to enter into a recognizance to keep the peace or to be of good behaviour or both; and

(c)to a person committed by a court to a prison in default of payment of any sum adjudged to be paid on his conviction.

Removal to hospital of other prisonersN.I.

54.—(1) If in the case of a person to whom this Article applies the Secretary of State is [F168satisfied by the same reports as are required] [F168satisfied by the same report as is required] for the purposes of Article 53—

(a)that the person is suffering from mental illness or severe mental impairment; and

(b)that the mental disorder from which the person is suffering is of a nature or degree which warrants his detention in hospital for medical treatment; and

(c)that the person is in urgent need of such treatment,

the Secretary of State shall have the same power of giving a transfer direction in respect of him under that Article as if he were serving a sentence of imprisonment.

(2) This Article applies to the following persons—

(a)persons detained in a prison or remand centre, not being persons serving a sentence of imprisonment or persons falling within the following sub-paragraphs of this paragraph;

(b)persons remanded in custody by a magistrates' court;

(c)civil prisoners, that is to say, persons committed by a court to prison for a limited term who are not persons falling to be dealt with under Article 53;

(d)persons detained under the [1971 c. 77] Immigration Act 1971 [F169 or under section 62 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (detention by Secretary of State)].

(3) Paragraphs (2) to (4) of Article 53 shall apply for the purposes of this Article and of any transfer direction given by virtue of this Article as they apply for the purposes of that Article and of any transfer direction given thereunder.

Restriction on discharge of prisoners removed to hospitalN.I.

55.—(1) Where a transfer direction is given in respect of any person, the Secretary of State may, if he thinks fit, by warrant further direct that that person shall be subject to the special restrictions set out in Article 47; and where the Secretary of State gives a transfer direction in respect of any such person as is mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) of Article 54(2), he shall also give a direction under this Article applying those restrictions to him.

(2) A direction under this Article (in this Order referred to as a “restriction direction”) shall have the same effect as a restriction order made under Article 47.

Further provisions as to prisoners under sentenceN.I.

56.—(1) Where a transfer direction and a restriction direction have been given in respect of a person serving a sentence of imprisonment and before[F170 his release date] the Secretary of State is notified by the responsible medical officer, the Review Tribunal or any medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of Part II by [F171RQIA] that that person no longer requires treatment in hospital for mental disorder or that no effective treatment for his disorder can be given in the hospital to which he has been removed, the Secretary of State may—

(a)by warrant direct that he be remitted to any prison,[F172 or juvenile justice centre] in which he might have been detained if he had not been removed to hospital, there to be dealt with as if he had not been so removed; or

(b)exercise, or authorise the managers of any[F172 juvenile justice centre] to which he might have been remitted to exercise, any power of releasing him on licence or discharging him under supervision which would have been exercisable if he had been remitted as aforesaid;

and on his arrival in the prison,[F172 or juvenile justice centre], or, as the case may be, his release or discharge as aforesaid, the transfer direction and the restriction direction shall cease to have effect.

[F170(2) A restriction direction in the case of a person serving a sentence of imprisonment shall cease to have effect, if it has not previously done so, on his release date.

(3) In this Article, references to a person's release date are to the day (if any) on which he would be entitled to be released (whether unconditionally or on licence) from any prison or juvenile justice centre in which he might have been detained if the transfer direction had not been given; and in determining that day any powers that would be exercisable by the Sentence Review Commissioners or the [F173Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland] if he were detained in such a prison or juvenile justice centre shall be disregarded.]

(4) For the purposes of section 38(2) of the [1953 c. 18 (N.I.)] Prison Act (Northern Ireland) 1953 (which provides for discounting from the sentences of certain prisoners periods while they are unlawfully at large), a patient who, having been transferred in pursuance of a transfer direction from any such institution as is referred to in that section, is at large in circumstances in which he is liable to be taken into custody under any provision of this Order, shall be treated as unlawfully at large and absent from that institution.

Further provisions as to detained personsN.I.

57.—(1) This Article has effect where a transfer direction has been given in respect of any such person as is described in sub-paragraph (a) of Article 54(2) and that person is in this Article referred to as “the detainee”.

(2) The transfer direction shall cease to have effect when the detainee's case is disposed of by the court having jurisdiction to try or otherwise deal with him, but without prejudice to any power of that court to make a hospital order or other order under this Part in his case.

(3) If the Secretary of State is notified by the responsible medical officer, the Review Tribunal or any medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of Part II by [F174RQIA] at any time before the detainee's case is disposed of by that court—

(a)that the detainee no longer requires treatment in hospital for mental disorder; or

(b)that no effective treatment for his disorder can be given at the hospital to which he has been removed,

the Secretary of State may by warrant direct that he be remitted to any place where he might have been detained if he had not been removed to hospital, there to be dealt with as if he had not been so removed, and on his arrival at the place to which he is so remitted the transfer direction shall cease to have effect.

(4) If (no direction having been given under paragraph (3)) the court having jurisdiction to try or otherwise deal with the detainee is satisfied on the written or oral evidence of the responsible medical officer—

(a)that the detainee no longer requires treatment in hospital for mental disorder; or

(b)that no effective treatment for his disorder can be given at the hospital to which he has been removed,

the court may order him to be remitted to any such place as is mentioned in paragraph (3) or released on bail and on his arrival at that place or, as the case may be, his release on bail the transfer direction shall cease to have effect.

(5) If (no direction or order having been given or made under paragraph (3) or (4)) it appears to the court having jurisdiction to try or otherwise deal with the detainee—

(a)that it is impracticable or inappropriate to bring the detainee before the court; and

(b)that the conditions set out in paragraph (6) are satisfied,

the court may make a hospital order (with or without a restriction order) in his case in his absence and, in the case of a person awaiting trial, without convicting him.

(6) A hospital order may be made in respect of a person under paragraph (5) if the court—

(a)is satisfied, on the oral evidence of two medical practitioners appointed for the purposes of Part II by [F174RQIA], that the detainee is suffering from mental illness or severe mental impairment of a nature or degree which warrants his detention in hospital for medical treatment; and

(b)is of the opinion, after considering any depositions or other documents required to be sent to the proper officer of the court, that it is proper to make such an order.

Further provisions as to persons remanded by magistrates' courtsN.I.

58.—(1) This Article has effect where a transfer direction has been given in respect of any such person as is described in sub-paragraph (b) of Article 54(2); and that person is in this Article referred to as “the accused”.

(2) Subject to paragraph (5), the transfer direction shall cease to have effect on the expiration of the period of remand unless the accused is committed in custody to the Crown Court for trial or to be otherwise dealt with.

(3) Subject to paragraph (4), the power of further remanding the accused may be exercised by the magistrates' court without his being brought before the court; and if the court further remands the accused in custody (whether or not he is brought before the court) the period of remand shall, for the purposes of this Article, be deemed not to have expired.

(4) The court shall not under paragraph (3) further remand the accused in his absence unless he has appeared before the court within the previous 6 months.

(5) If the magistrates' court is satisfied, on the written or oral evidence of the responsible medical officer—

(a)that the accused no longer requires treatment in hospital for mental disorder; or

(b)that no effective treatment for his disorder can be given in the hospital to which he has been removed,

the court may direct that the transfer direction shall cease to have effect notwithstanding that the period of remand has not expired or that the accused is committed to the Crown Court as mentioned in paragraph (2).

(6) If the accused is committed to the Crown Court as mentioned in paragraph (2) and the transfer direction has not ceased to have effect under paragraph (5), Article 57 shall apply as if the transfer direction given in his case were a direction given in respect of a person falling within that Article.

(7) The magistrates' court may, in the absence of the accused, conduct a F175... preliminary inquiry into an offence alleged to have been committed by him and commit him for trial in accordance with Article 37 of the [1981 NI 26] Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 if—

(a)the court is satisfied on the written or oral evidence of the responsible medical officer, that the accused is unfit to take part in the proceedings; and

(b)the accused is represented by counsel or a solicitor.

Further provisions as to civil prisoners and persons detained under the Immigration Act 1971N.I.

59 .F176—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a transfer direction given in respect of any such person as is described in sub-paragraph (c) or (d) of Article 54(2) shall cease to have effect on the expiration of the period during which he would, but for his removal to hospital, be liable to be detained in the place from which he was removed.

(2) Where a transfer direction and a restriction direction have been given in respect of any such person as is mentioned in paragraph (1), then, if the Secretary of State is notified by the responsible medical officer, the Review Tribunal or any medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of Part II by [F177RQIA] at any time before the expiration of the period there mentioned—

(a)that that person no longer requires treatment in hospital for mental disorder; or

(b)that no effective treatment for his disorder can be given in the hospital to which he has been removed,

the Secretary of State may by warrant direct that he be remitted to any place where he might have been detained if he had not been removed to hospital, and on his arrival at the place to which he is so remitted the transfer direction and the restriction direction shall cease to have effect.

SupplementaryN.I.

Requirements as to written evidenceN.I.

60.—(1) For the purposes of any provision of this Part under which a court may act on the written evidence of a medical practitioner or a medical practitioner of any description or an approved social worker, a report in writing purporting to be signed by a medical practitioner or a medical practitioner of such a description or by an approved social worker may, subject to the provisions of this Article, be received in evidence without proof of the signature of the practitioner or approved social worker and without proof that he has the requisite qualifications or is of the requisite description; but the court may require the signatory of any such report to be called to give oral evidence.

(2) Where, in pursuance of a direction of the court, any such report is tendered in evidence otherwise than by or on behalf of the person who is the subject of the report, then—

(a)if that person is represented by counsel or a solicitor, a copy of the report shall be given to his counsel or solicitor;

(b)if that person is not so represented, the substance of the report shall be disclosed to him or, where he is a childF178. . . , to his parent or guardian if present in court; and

(c)that person may require the signatory of the report to be called to give oral evidence, and evidence to rebut the evidence contained in the report may be called by or on behalf of that person.

Interpretation of Part IIIN.I.

61.—[F179(1) In this Part the following words and expressions have the same meaning as in the Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998, namely—

(a)child;

(b)guardian;

(c)juvenile justice centre.

(1A) In this Part “place of safety” in relation to a child means any juvenile justice centre, any police station, any hospital or surgery, or any other suitable place, the occupier of which is willing temporarily to receive a child.]

(2) In this Part “place of safety”, in relation to a person not being a childF180. . . , means any Royal Ulster Constabulary station or any prison or any hospital of which the[F180 managing F181... authorised [F182HSC trust]] is willing temporarily to receive him.

(3) In this Part “prison” has the same meaning as in the [1953 c. 18 (N.I.)] Prison Act (Northern Ireland) 1953.

(4) Any reference in this Part to an offence punishable on summary conviction with imprisonment—

(a)includes a reference to an indictable offence which may be tried summarily; and

(b)shall be construed without regard to any prohibition or restriction imposed by or under any statutory provision on the imprisonment of childrenF179. . . .

(5) Where a patient who is liable to be detained in a hospital in pursuance of an order or direction under this Part is treated by virtue of any provision of this Order as if he had been admitted to the hospital in pursuance of a subsequent order or direction, he shall be treated as if the subsequent order or direction had described him as suffering from the form or forms of mental disorder specified in the earlier order or direction, or where he is treated as if he had been so admitted by virtue of a direction under Article 48, such form of mental disorder as may be specified in the direction under that Article.

(6) In the following provisions—

• Article 46(2), (5), (6) and (7);

• Article 47(2) to (5);

• Article 48,

• any reference to a hospital order, a guardianship order or a restriction order shall be construed as including a reference to any order or direction under this Part or any other statutory provision having the same effect as the first-mentioned order; and the modifications set out in Schedule 2 in respect of the provisions of Part II described in that Schedule accordingly include those which are consequential on this paragraph.

(7) References in this Part to persons serving a sentence of imprisonment shall be construed in accordance with Article 53(5).

(8) Section 174 of the [1968 c. 34 (N.I.)] Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (which relates to the presumption and determination of age) shall apply for the purposes of this Part as it applies for the purposes of that Act[F179 and Article 62 of the Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 shall apply for the purposes of this Part as it applies for the purposes of that Order.]

PART IVN.I.CONSENT TO TREATMENT

Patients to whom the provisions of this Part applyN.I.

62.—(1) Article 63 and, so far as relevant to that Article, Articles 65, 66 and 68 apply to all patients.

(2) The other provisions of this Part apply to any patient liable to be detained under this Order except—

(a)a patient who is liable to be detained by virtue of Article 7(2) or (3)[F183, 7A(2)], 42, 129 or 130 or by virtue of directions under Article 46(4); and

(b)a patient who has been conditionally discharged under Article 48(2), 78 or 79 and has not been recalled to hospital.

Treatment requiring consent and a second opinionN.I.

63.—(1) This Article applies to the following forms of medical treatment for mental disorder—

(a)any surgical operation for destroying brain tissue or for destroying the functioning of brain tissue; and

(b)such other forms of treatment as may be prescribed for the purposes of this Article.

(2) Subject to Article 68, a patient shall not be given any form of treatment to which this Article applies unless he has consented to it and—

(a)a medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of this Part by [F184RQIA] (not being the responsible medical officer) and two other persons appointed for the purposes of this sub-paragraph by [F184RQIA] (not being medical practitioners) have certified in the prescribed form that the patient is capable of understanding the nature, purpose and likely effects of the treatment in question and has consented to it; and

(b)the medical practitioner referred to in sub-paragraph (a) has certified in the prescribed form that, having regard to the likelihood of the treatment alleviating or preventing a deterioration of the patient's condition, the treatment should be given.

(3) Before giving a certificate under paragraph (2)(b) the medical practitioner concerned shall consult such person or persons as appear to him to be principally concerned with the patient's medical treatment.

(4) A medical practitioner or other person appointed as is mentioned in paragraph (2)(a) may, for the purpose of exercising his functions under this Part or (as the case may be) paragraph (2)(a), at any reasonable time—

(a)in private visit and interview any patient; and

(b)in the case of a medical practitioner, examine any patient and require the production of and inspect any records relating to the treatment of the patient.

(5) Where any person has given a certificate under paragraph (2)(a) or (b) he shall immediately forward a copy thereof to [F184RQIA] .

(6) Before making any regulations for the purpose of this Article the Department shall consult such bodies as appear to it to be concerned.

Treatment requiring consent or a second opinionN.I.

64.—(1) This Article applies to the following forms of medical treatment for mental disorder—

(a)such forms of treatment as may be prescribed for the purposes of this Article; and

(b)the administration of medicine to a patient by any means (not being a form of treatment prescribed under sub-paragraph (a) or Article 63) at any time during a period for which he is liable to be detained as a patient to whom this Article applies if [F185three months] or more have elapsed since the first occasion in that period when medicine was administered to him by any means for his mental disorder.

(2) The Department may by order vary the length of the period mentioned in paragraph (1)(b).

(3) Subject to Article 68, a patient shall not be given any form of treatment to which this Article applies unless—

(a)he has consented to that treatment and either the responsible medical officer or a medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of this Part by [F186RQIA]has certified in the prescribed form that the patient is capable of understanding its nature, purpose and likely effects and has consented to it; or

(b)subject to paragraph (4), a medical practitioner appointed as aforesaid (not being the responsible medical officer) has certified in the prescribed form that the patient is not capable of understanding the nature, purpose and likely effects of that treatment or has not consented to it but that, having regard to the likelihood of its alleviating or preventing a deterioration of his condition, the treatment should be given.

(4) In relation to any form of treatment mentioned in paragraph (1)(b), a certificate under paragraph (3)(b) may also be given by a medical practitioner appointed by [F186RQIA] for the purposes of Part II (not being the responsible medical officer).

(5) Before giving a certificate under paragraph (3)(b) the medical practitioner concerned shall consult such person or persons as appear to him to be principally concerned with the patient's medical treatment.

(6) Where any person has given a certificate under paragraph (3)(a) or (b) he shall immediately forward a copy thereof to [F186RQIA] .

(7) Before making any regulations for the purposes of this Article the Department shall consult such bodies as appear to it to be concerned.

Plans of treatmentN.I.

65.  Any consent or certificate under Article 63 or 64 may relate to a plan of treatment under which the patient is to be given (whether within a specified period or otherwise) one or more of the forms of treatment to which that Article applies.

Withdrawal of consentN.I.

66.—(1) Where the consent of a patient to any treatment has been given for the purposes of Article 63 or 64, the patient may, subject to Article 68, at any time before the completion of treatment withdraw his consent, and those Articles shall then apply as if the remainder of the treatment were a separate form of treatment.

(2) Without prejudice to the application of paragraph (1) to any treatment given under a plan of treatment to which a patient has consented, a patient who has consented to such a plan may, subject to Article 68, at any time withdraw his consent to further treatment, or to further treatment of any description, under the plan.

Review of treatmentN.I.

67.—(1) Where a patient is given treatment in accordance with Article 63(2) or 64(3)(b) a report on the treatment and the patient's condition shall be given by the responsible medical officer to [F187RQIA]—

(a)on the next occasion on which a report is furnished in respect of the patient under Article 13(2), (3) or (5); and

(b)at any other time if so required by [F187RQIA] .

(2) In relation to a patient who is subject to a restriction order or restriction direction paragraph (1) shall have effect as if sub-paragraph (a) required the report to be made—

(a)in the case of treatment in the period of six months beginning with the date of the order or direction, at the end of that period;

(b)in the case of treatment at any subsequent time, on the next occasion on which the responsible medical officer makes a report in respect of the patient under Article 47(5).

(3) [F187RQIA] may at any time give notice to the responsible medical officer directing that, subject to Article 68, a certificate given in respect of a patient under Article 63(2) or 64(3)(b) shall not apply to treatment given to him after a date specified in the notice and Articles 63 and 64 shall then apply to any such treatment as if that certificate had not been given.

Urgent treatmentN.I.

68.—(1) Articles 63 and 64 shall not apply to any treatment—

(a)which is immediately necessary to save the patient's life; or

(b)which (not being irreversible) is immediately necessary to prevent a serious deterioration of his condition; or

(c)which (not being irreversible or hazardous) is immediately necessary to alleviate serious suffering by the patient; or

(d)which (not being irreversible or hazardous) is immediately necessary and represents the minimum interference necessary to prevent the patient from behaving violently or being a danger to himself or to others.

(2) Articles 66 and 67(3) shall not preclude the continuation of any treatment or of treatment under any plan pending compliance with Article 63 or 64 if the responsible medical officer considers that the discontinuance of the treatment or of treatment under the plan would cause serious suffering to the patient.

(3) For the purposes of this Article treatment is irreversible if it has unfavourable irreversible physical or psychological consequences and hazardous if it entails significant physical hazard.

(4) Where a patient is given treatment under this Article the responsible medical officer shall immediately notify [F188RQIA] as to—

(a)the nature of the treatment given to the patient; and

(b)where treatment is given under paragraph (1), which of sub-paragraphs (a) to (d) of that paragraph applied in relation to the patient.

Treatment not requiring consentN.I.

69.  The consent of a patient shall not be required for any medical treatment given to him for the mental disorder from which he is suffering, not being treatment falling within Article 63 or 64, if the treatment is given by or under the direction of the responsible medical officer.

PART VN.I.[F189THE REVIEW TRIBUNAL]

ConstitutionN.I.

Constitution of the Review TribunalN.I.

70.—(1) The [F190Review Tribunal] shall be constituted in accordance with Schedule 3.

(2) The Department may pay to the members of the Review Tribunal such remuneration and allowances as the Department, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel, may determine, and defray the expenses of the tribunal to such amount as the Department, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel, may determine, and may provide for the tribunal such officers and servants, and such accommodation, as the tribunal may require.

Applications and references concerning Part II patientsN.I.

Applications to the tribunal under Part IIN.I.

71.—(1) Where a patient is detained in a hospital by virtue of any report under Article 9 or 12(1), he may apply to the Review Tribunal within the period of 6 months beginning with the date of admission.

(2) Where a patient is received into guardianship in pursuance of a guardianship application, he may apply to the Review Tribunal within the period of 6 months beginning with the day on which the application is accepted.

(3) Where the authority for the detention of a patient is renewed under Article 13 or the authority for the guardianship of a patient is renewed under Article 23, the patient may apply to the Review Tribunal at any time before the expiration of the period for which the authority is so renewed.

(4) Where—

(a)a report is furnished under Article 14(4) in respect of a patient; or

(b)reports are furnished under both sub-paragraph (a) and sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (4) of Article 24 in respect of a patient,

the nearest relative of the patient may apply to the Review Tribunal in respect of the patient within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which he is informed of that fact under Article 14(7) or, as the case may be, Article 24(7).

(5) Where an order is made under Article 36 in respect of a patient who is or subsequently becomes liable to be detained or subject to guardianship under Part II, the nearest relative of the patient may apply to the Review Tribunal in respect of the patient within the period of 12 months beginning with the date of the order and in any subsequent period of 12 months during which the order continues in force.

References of cases of Part II patients to the tribunalN.I.

72.—(1) The Attorney General, the Department or, on the direction of the High Court, the Master (Care and Protection) may at any time refer to the Review Tribunal the case of any patient who is liable to be detained or subject to guardianship under Part II.

(2) For the purpose of furnishing information for the purposes of a reference under paragraph (1) any medical practitioner authorised by or on behalf of the patient may at any reasonable time visit the patient and examine him in private and require the production of and inspect any records relating to the detention or treatment of the patient in any hospital.

Duty on [F191responsible authorities] to refer cases to the tribunalN.I.

73.—(1) If the authority for the detention of a patient in a hospital or his guardianship under Part II is renewed under Article 13 or 23 and a period of 2 years (or, if the patient has not attained the age of 16 years, one year) has elapsed since his case was last considered by the Review Tribunal, whether on his own application or otherwise, the responsible[F192 authority] shall refer his case to the tribunal.

(2) For the purpose of furnishing information for the purposes of any reference under this Article, any medical practitioner authorised by or on behalf of the patient may at any reasonable time visit the patient and examine him in private and require the production of and inspect any records relating to the detention or treatment of the patient in any hospital.

(3) The Department may by order vary the length of the periods mentioned in paragraph (1).

Applications and references concerning Part III patientsN.I.

Applications and references to the tribunal concerning patients subject to hospital and guardianship orders, other than restricted patientsN.I.

74.—(1) Articles 71(3), 72 and 73 shall apply in relation to a patient admitted to a hospital in pursuance of a hospital order or placed under guardianship by a guardianship order as they apply to a patient detained in hospital or subject to guardianship under Part II.

(2) Without prejudice to paragraph (1), an application to the Review Tribunal may also be made in respect of a patient admitted to a hospital in pursuance of a hospital order or placed under guardianship by a guardianship order, as follows, that is to say—

(a)by the patient, within the period of 6 months beginning with the date of the order; and

(b)by the nearest relative of the patient, within the period of 12 months beginning with the date of the order and in any subsequent period of 12 months.

(3) In this Article any reference to a hospital order or guardianship order shall include a reference to any order or direction under Part III or any other statutory provision having the same affect as such an order.

(4) This Article does not apply in the case of a patient who is a restricted patient within the meaning of Article 84.

Applications to the tribunal concerning restricted patientsN.I.

75.  A patient who is a restricted patient within the meaning of Article 84 and is detained in a hospital may apply to the Review Tribunal—

(a)within the period of 6 months beginning with the date of the relevant hospital order or transfer direction;

(b)within the period between the expiration of 6 months and the expiration of 12 months beginning with the date of the relevant hospital order or transfer direction; and

(c)within any subsequent period of 12 months.

References by Secretary of State concerning restricted patientsN.I.

76.—(1) The Secretary of State may at any time refer the case of a restricted patient to the Review Tribunal.

(2) The Secretary of State shall refer to the Review Tribunal the case of any restricted patient detained in a hospital whose case has not been considered by the tribunal, whether on his own application or otherwise, within the last 2 years.

(3) The Secretary of State may by order vary the length of the period mentioned in paragraph (2).

Discharge of patientsN.I.

Power to discharge patients other than restricted patientsN.I.

77.—[F193(1) Where application is made to the Review Tribunal by or in respect of a patient who is liable to be detained under this Order, the tribunal may in any case direct that the patient be discharged, and shall so direct if—

(a)[F194(except in relation to detention for assessment),] the tribunal is not satisfied that he is then suffering from mental illness or severe mental impairment or from either of those forms of mental disorder of a nature or degree which warrants his detention in hospital for medical treatment; or

[F195(aa)in relation to detention for assessment, the tribunal is not satisfied that the patient is then suffering from mental disorder of a nature or degree which warrants the patient’s detention in a hospital for assessment (or for assessment followed by medical treatment); or]

(b)the tribunal is not satisfied that his discharge would create a substantial likelihood of serious physical harm to himself or to other persons; or

(c)in the case of an application by virtue of Article 71(4)(a) in respect of a report furnished under Article 14(4)(b), the tribunal is satisfied that he would, if discharged, receive proper care.]

[F196(1A) In paragraph (1) “detention for assessment” means detention by virtue of any report under Article 9.]

(2) A tribunal may under paragraph (1) direct the discharge of a patient on a future date specified in the direction; and where the tribunal does not direct the discharge of a patient under that paragraph the tribunal may—

(a)with a view to facilitating his discharge on a future date, recommend that he be granted leave of absence or transferred to another hospital or into guardianship; and

(b)further consider his case in the event of any such recommendation not being complied with.

(3) Where application is made to the Review Tribunal by or in respect of a patient who is subject to guardianship under this Order, the tribunal may in any case direct that the patient be discharged, and shall so direct if it is satisfied—

(a)that he is not then suffering from mental illness or severe mental handicap or from either of those forms of mental disorder of a nature or degree which warrants his remaining under guardianship; or

(b)that it is not necessary in the interests of the welfare of the patient that he should remain under guardianship.

(4) Paragraphs (1) to (3) apply in relation to references to the Review Tribunal as they apply in relation to applications made to the tribunal by or in respect of a patient.

(5) Paragraph (1) shall not apply in the case of a restricted patient except as provided in Articles 78 and 79.

Power to discharge restricted patients subject to restriction ordersN.I.

78.—[F197(1) Where an application to the Review Tribunal is made by a restricted patient who is subject to a restriction order, or where the case of such a patient is referred to the tribunal, the tribunal shall direct the absolute discharge of the patient if—

(a)the tribunal is not satisfied as mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) or (b) of Article 77; and

(b)the tribunal is satisfied that it is not appropriate for the patient to remain liable to be recalled to hospital for further treatment.

(2) Where in the case of any such patient as is mentioned in paragraph (1)—

(a)sub-paragraph (a) of that paragraph applies; but

(b)sub-paragraph (b) of that paragraph does not apply,

the tribunal shall direct the conditional discharge of the patient.]

(3) Where a patient is absolutely discharged under this Article he shall thereupon cease to be liable to be detained by virtue of the relevant hospital order, and the restriction order shall cease to have effect accordingly.

(4) Where a patient is conditionally discharged under this Article—

(a)he may be recalled by the Secretary of State under paragraph (3) of Article 48 as if he had been conditionally discharged under paragraph (2) of that Article; and

(b)the patient shall comply with such conditions (if any) as may be imposed at the time of discharge by the tribunal or at any subsequent time by the Secretary of State.

(5) The Secretary of State may from time to time vary any condition imposed (whether by the tribunal or by him) under paragraph (4).

(6) Where a restriction order in respect of a patient ceases to have effect after he has been conditionally discharged under this Article the patient shall, unless previously recalled, be deemed to be absolutely discharged on the date when the order ceases to have effect and shall cease to be liable to be detained by virtue of the relevant hospital order.

(7) The tribunal may defer a direction for the conditional discharge of a patient until such arrangements as appear to the tribunal to be necessary for that purpose have been made to its satisfaction; and where by virtue of any such deferment no direction has been given on an application or reference before the time when the patient's case comes before the tribunal on a subsequent application or reference, the previous application or reference shall be treated as one on which no direction under this Article can be given.

(8) This Article is without prejudice to Article 48.

Powers in relation to restricted patients subject to restriction directionsN.I.

79.—(1) Where an application to the Review Tribunal is made by a restricted patient who is subject to a restriction direction, or where the case of such a patient is referred to the tribunal, the tribunal—

(a)shall notify the Secretary of State whether, in its opinion, the patient would, if subject to a restriction order, be entitled to be absolutely or conditionally discharged under Article 78; and

(b)if it notifies him that the patient would be entitled to be conditionally discharged, may recommend that in the event of his not being discharged under this Article he should continue to be detained in hospital.

(2) If in the case of a patient not falling within paragraph (4)—

(a)the tribunal notifies the Secretary of State that the patient would be entitled to be absolutely or conditionally discharged; and

(b)within the period of 90 days beginning with the date of that notification the Secretary of State gives notice to the tribunal that the patient may be so discharged,

the tribunal shall direct the absolute or, as the case may be, the conditional discharge of the patient.

(3) Where a patient continues to be liable to be detained in a hospital at the end of the period referred to in paragraph (2)(b) because the Secretary of State has not given the notice there mentioned, the responsible[F198 authority] shall, unless the tribunal has made a recommendation under paragraph (1)(b), transfer the patient to a prison or other institution in which he might have been detained if he had not been removed to hospital, there to be dealt with as if he had not been so removed.

(4) If, in the case of a patient who is subject to a transfer direction under Article 54, the tribunal notifies the Secretary of State that the patient would be entitled to be absolutely or conditionally discharged, the Secretary of State shall, unless the tribunal has made a recommendation under paragraph (1)(b), by warrant direct that the patient be remitted to a prison or other institution in which he might have been detained if he had not been removed to hospital, there to be dealt with as if he had not been so removed.

(5) Where a patient is transferred or remitted under paragraph (3) or (4) the relevant transfer direction and the restriction direction shall cease to have effect on his arrival in the prison or other institution.

[F199(5A) Where the tribunal have made a recommendation under paragraph (1)(b) in the case of a patient who is subject to a restriction direction—

(a)the fact that the restriction direction remains in force does not prevent—

(i)the making of any application or reference to the [F200Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland] by or in respect of him or the exercise by him of any power to require the Secretary of State to refer his case to those Commissioners, or

(ii)the making of any application by him to the Sentence Review Commissioners, and

(b)if—

(i)the [F201Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland] give a direction by virtue of which the patient would become entitled to be released (whether unconditionally or on licence) from any prison or juvenile justice centre in which he might have been detained if the transfer direction had not been given, or

(ii)the Sentence Review Commissioners grant a declaration by virtue of which he would become so entitled,

the restriction direction shall cease to have effect at the time at which he would become so entitled.]

(6) Paragraphs (3) to (8) of Article 78 shall have effect in relation to this Article as they have effect in relation to that Article, taking references to the relevant hospital order and the restriction order as references to the transfer direction and the restriction direction.

(7) This Article is without prejudice to Articles 56 to 59 in their application to patients who are not discharged under this Article.

Applications and references concerning conditionally discharged restricted patientsN.I.

80.—(1) Where a restricted patient has been conditionally discharged under Article 48(2), 78 or 79 and is subsequently recalled to hospital—

(a)the Secretary of State shall, within one month of the day on which the patient returns or is returned to hospital, refer his case to the Review Tribunal; and

(b)Article 75 shall apply to the patient as if the relevant hospital order or transfer direction had been made on that day.

(2) Where a restricted patient has been conditionally discharged as aforesaid but has not been recalled to hospital he may apply to the Review Tribunal—

(a)within the period of 12 months beginning with the date on which he was conditionally discharged; and

(b)in any subsequent period of 12 months.

(3) Articles 78 and 79 shall not apply to an application under paragraph (2) but on any such application the tribunal may—

(a)vary any condition to which the patient is subject in connection with his discharge or impose any condition which might have been imposed in connection therewith; or

(b)direct that the restriction order or restriction direction to which he is subject shall cease to have effect;

and if the tribunal gives a direction under sub-paragraph (b) the patient shall cease to be liable to be detained by virtue of the relevant hospital order or transfer direction.

GeneralN.I.

Visiting and examination of patientsN.I.

81.  For the purpose of advising whether an application to the Review Tribunal should be made by or in respect of a patient who is liable to be detained or subject to guardianship under this Order or of furnishing information as to the condition of a patient for the purposes of such an application, any medical practitioner authorised by or on behalf of the patient or other person who is entitled to make or has made the application—

(a)may at any reasonable time visit the patient and examine him in private, and

(b)may require the production of and inspect any records relating to the detention or treatment of the patient in any hospital.

[F202Applications to the tribunalN.I.

82.—(1) Applications to the Review Tribunal may be made only in such cases and at such times as are expressly provided by virtue of this Order, the 2016 Act or any other statutory provision.

(2) Where any statutory provision authorises an application to be made to the Review Tribunal within a specified period, not more than one such application relating to the same matter may be made within that period; but for this purpose any application withdrawn in accordance with rules made under Article 83 is to be disregarded.

(3) Any application to the Review Tribunal is to be made by notice in writing addressed to the tribunal (but this is subject to any statutory provision which provides otherwise).

(4) The Department of Justice may make regulations about what is, or is not, to be regarded as the same matter for the purposes of paragraph (2).

(5) Regulations under paragraph (4) may be made only if a draft of the regulations has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, the Assembly.]

Procedure of tribunalN.I.

83.—(1) The Lord Chancellor may[F203, after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice,] make rules with respect to the making of applications to the Review Tribunal and with respect to the proceedings of the tribunal and matters incidental to or consequential on such proceedings.

[F204(1A) The Lord Chief Justice may nominate any of the following to exercise his functions under paragraph (1)—

(a)the holder of one of the offices listed in Schedule 1 to the Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002;

(b)a Lord Justice of Appeal (as defined in section 88 of that Act).]

(2) Rules made under this Article may in particular make provision—

(a)for enabling the tribunal, or the chairman of the tribunal, to postpone the consideration of any application by or in respect of a patient, or of any such application of any specified class, until the expiration of such period (not exceeding 12 months) as may be specified in the rules from the date on which an application by or in respect of the same patient was last considered and determined by the tribunal F205...;

(b)for restricting the persons qualified to serve as members of the tribunal for the consideration of any application, or of an application of any specified class;