Why am I on this assessment?
You are a sentenced prisoner. You have been transferred from prison to hospital because on the advice of two doctors, the Ministry of Justice agreed that you needed to be transferred to hospital to have treatment for a serious mental health problem.
Two doctors one who is Section 12 approved and has specialist experience in the treatment and diagnosis of mental illness and a registered practitioner usually a doctor who knows you, such as your GP put you on the section with the agreement of the Ministry of Justice.
How long does it last and what happens next?
You can be kept in hospital for up to six months at first so that you can be given the treatment you need.
The mental health professional in charge of your care and treatment under the MHA is known as the Responsible Clinician or RC. If your responsible clinician thinks you need to stay in hospital for longer than six months, they can renew for another six months, and then for up to a year at a time.
If your sentence ends while you are in hospital and you still need treatment, you can be kept in hospital.
Can I be medicated against my will?
Yes. Medicine can be given to you with or without your consent. However, your consent will always be sought. Your responsible clinician and other hospital staff will talk to you about any medicine that you need for your mental health problem.
After three months, if you do not want the medicine you are being given, an independent doctor called a SOAD (Second Opinion Appointed Doctor) will talk to you and to staff who know you. They will decide what medicine you can be given and except in an emergency, no other medicine can be given to you without your agreement.
Can I get leave?
Your responsible clinician can grant you leave (known as Section 17 leave).
How can I appeal?
You can appeal to the Mental Health Tribunal, for discharge from detention once in the first six months, once in the second six months and after that every year.
You can appeal to the Hospital Managers for discharge from detention at any time and however many times you want, at the discretion of the Hospital Managers. Hospital Managers are an independent group of people, who are separate from the hospital. Their job is to ensure that the Mental Health Act is being correctly applied and that service users’ rights under the Act are being upheld.
For help with an appeal speak to a member of the hospital staff or to an advocate.
What are my rights?
You have certain rights when you are in hospital. These include the right to:
- Information about your section and the reasons for detention
- Information about consent to treatment
- Information about your rights of appeal to the Mental Health Tribunal
- Information about how to contact a suitably qualified solicitor
- Information about your right to appeal to the Hospital Managers
- Information on how to obtain the help and support of an Independent Mental Health Advocate (IMHA)
- Correspondence and visitors
- Information on how to make a complaint
- Information about safeguarding
- Information about the Care Quality Commission
The Mental Health Act 1983 Code of Practice
The MHA Code of Practice should be followed by professionals who are involved in your care and treatment. The Code of Practice provides guidance to health professionals about the MHA and is also intended to be helpful to you, your family, carers, representatives, friends, advocates and anyone else who supports you. A copy of the code should be available on the ward for you to see.