Section 21B | [ Patients Who Are Taken Into Custody Or Return After More Than 28 Days] | Mental Health Act 1983 C20

[21B Patients who are taken into custody or return after more than 28 days]

Mental Health Act 1983 (1983 c 20) | Legislation

[21B Patients who are taken into custody or return after more than 28 days]

[(1) This section applies where a patient who is absent without leave is taken into custody under section 18 above, or returns himself to the hospital or place where he ought to be, later than the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the first day of his absence without leave.

(2) It shall be the duty of the [appropriate practitioner], within the period of one week beginning with the day on which the patient is returned or returns himself to the hospital or place where he ought to be [(his “return day”)]—

(a) to examine the patient; and

(b) if it appears to him that the relevant conditions are satisfied, to furnish to the appropriate body a report to that effect in the prescribed form;

and where such a report is furnished in respect of the patient the appropriate body shall cause him to be informed.

(3) Where the patient is liable to be detained [or is a community patient] (as opposed to subject to guardianship), the [appropriate practitioner] shall, before furnishing a report under subsection (2) above, consult—

(a) one or more