# Old Forms **URL:** \ **Category:** Mental Health Act\ **Tags:** mha-forms\ **Created:** [11 October 2023 07:13 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/old-forms/1927 "2023-10-11T07:13:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![hewitth](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@hewitth](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/hewitth)\ **Post date:** [11 October 2023 07:13 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/old-forms/1927/1 "2023-10-11T07:13:20Z")
If an old version of an [A8](https://www.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/Form_A8:_Section_3_-_medical_recommendation_for_admission_for_treatment) & [A6](https://www.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/Form_A6:_Section_3_-_application_by_an_approved_mental_health_professional_for_admission_for_treatment) is used, completed on the 11/12/2020, new forms should be used as from 01/12/2020, are the papers still valid. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![MariaO](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@MariaO](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/MariaO)\ **Post date:** [11 October 2023 08:26 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/old-forms/1927/2 "2023-10-11T08:26:41Z")
Dear Heatherhewitt, “The amendment to the 2008 regulations includes minor changes to the statutory forms. These comprise of an addition of a field in which the author’s email address can be entered and, where relevant, an option to indicate that the form has been served electronically. There will be a grace period of 2 months starting 1 December 2020, during which the old versions of the statutory forms can be used when submitting in hard copy, but not when communicating electronically. After 1 February 2021 the new forms should be used in all cases.” [DHSC, ‘Electronic communication of statutory forms under the Mental Health Act’ (updated 13/1/21)](https://www.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/DHSC,_%27Electronic_communication_of_statutory_forms_under_the_Mental_Health_Act%27_(updated_13/1/21)) I have experienced a situation where a medical recommendation was completed on an old form after a two month grace period, and as a result that section became invalid. Additionally, in the event of a patient transfer, the receiving hospital will be unwilling to accept the transfer due to outdated documentation. Hope this helps! ---
**Author:** ![hewitth](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/db5fbb/32.png) [@hewitth](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/hewitth)\ **Post date:** [11 October 2023 08:47 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/old-forms/1927/3 "2023-10-11T08:47:47Z")
Thank you yes it does, they are within the 2 month grace period, thankfully ---
**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:** [11 October 2023 12:40 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/old-forms/1927/4 "2023-10-11T12:40:54Z")
The absence of an e-mail address is not going to persuade a court that the application is unlawful. It’s a very minor issue.