I have a case whereby a patient is saying due to previous trauma and serious complaints that they have had in the past on the ward that they are being admitted to. There is another ward which they have been on before that they would like to accept an admission on, but this hospital is full at the moment and therefore cannot take them on.
My question is does the patient have the right to refuse treatment, as their rationale is that it is not therapeutic for them to be admitted to the ward that they are due to go to tomorrow. Can they refuse and ask to be transferred or wait for the other ward to have a bed available?
If the patient will be admitted on an informal basis, they are entitled to refuse admission to a particular ward. However, that does not create a right to wait indefinitely for a preferred ward to become available. If clinicians consider that admission is necessary, they may consider detention under the Mental Health Act rather than accepting the refusal.
I had a case recently when a client recognised he needed admission, contacted the cmht as he had previous trauma at his local unit so was not willing to go there. He was advised to attend an alternative hospital to his local one to be admitted there, and they detained him and transferred him immediately to the unit he did not want to go to.
His concerns and distress were disregarded, despite the fact that he had ongoing complaints against the unit that were being investigated by the CQC. A Tribunal also refused to recommend a transfer!
I think that is awful considering the trauma patients face. Really awful. I hope that this changes as this cannot benefit either party. Would they have immediate right to section him if he last minute agreed to go in?