# Does RC cover out of hours have to be provided by someone AC-approved? **URL:** \ **Category:** Mental Health Act\ **Tags:** rc\ **Created:** [7 April 2025 21:31 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/does-rc-cover-out-of-hours-have-to-be-provided-by-someone-ac-approved/3552 "2025-04-07T21:31:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anon22](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/958977/32.png) [@Anon22](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/Anon22)\ **Post date:** [7 April 2025 21:31 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/does-rc-cover-out-of-hours-have-to-be-provided-by-someone-ac-approved/3552/1 "2025-04-07T21:31:25Z")
Does anyone know if is it a legal requirement that on call cover is provided by someone AC-approved? (independent hospital, no acute wards) ---
**Author:** ![GuyDavis](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/eb9ed0/32.png) [@GuyDavis](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/GuyDavis)\ **Post date:** [8 April 2025 13:50 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/does-rc-cover-out-of-hours-have-to-be-provided-by-someone-ac-approved/3552/2 "2025-04-08T13:50:43Z")
It’s not possible for a practitioner to be the Responsible Clinician if they are not an Approved Clinician. ---
**Author:** ![CaptainWalker](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/user_avatar/forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/captainwalker/32/159_2.png) [@CaptainWalker](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/CaptainWalker)\ **Post date:** [8 April 2025 18:05 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/does-rc-cover-out-of-hours-have-to-be-provided-by-someone-ac-approved/3552/3 "2025-04-08T18:05:07Z")
If this is about cover for legalities about detention etc, yes it’s a requirement. If it’s medical cover for any sort of ward with patients in it, then there are tiers of cover; some not requiring AC qualifications.