Discharging a patient without the RC seeing them

[hewitth (Heatherhewitt)]

Hi
If a patient is going on S17 leave for a period of weeks to see if the accommodation is right for them, the placement will apply for DOL’s, when in place the RC will discharge them from the S3.
Does the RC have to physically see that patient in order for him to complete the S23. Is there a time frame for the RC to be able to complete the S23 without seeing the patient.
Hope this makes sense.
Thanks

[Jonathan]

I don’t think there’s any timeframe. When the RC believes the detention criteria are no longer met he should discharge. Though I imagine that in most circumstances the RC would prefer to have seen the patient shortly before discharge.

[CaptainWalker (Russell Lutchman)]

@hewitth

If a patient is going on S17 leave for a period of weeks to see if the accommodation is right for them,

If we’re talking ‘not a CTO’ which is also S17, then I’ve not heard of ‘leave not in custody’ for weeks - but then again strange new things are happening all over the country (England & Wales).

@hewitth

Does the RC have to physically see that patient in order for him to complete the S23. Is there a time frame for the RC to be able to complete the S23 without seeing the patient.

I am no aware of such requirements in law. See also MHA 1983 s23 - Mental Health Law Online… but… but… nobody will notice or care if anything outside of the law happens (based on my observations of what’s happening or not in E&W). The latter is called shared experience and is not a recommendation to act outside the law (aka illegaly).