# Timescales for non-AWOL absconders

**URL:** <https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/timescales-for-non-awol-absconders/2650>\
**Category:** Mental Health Act\
**Tags:** awol\
**Created:** [15 August 2024 09:21 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/timescales-for-non-awol-absconders/2650 "2024-08-15T09:21:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MentalHealthCop](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@MentalHealthCop](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/MentalHealthCop)\
**Post date:** [15 August 2024 09:21 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/timescales-for-non-awol-absconders/2650/1 "2024-08-15T09:21:25Z")

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Patient made subject of an application for admission, bed identified, etc. they abscond from the AMHP whilst waiting for conveyance and the police are involved as they are reported high risk missing.

Timescales for use of s138 to retake them, please?

• Section 138 talks about periods in s18  
• Opinions suggest the period remaining in which the med recs have currency.

Finally - does the answer the change for s2 / s3 absconders?

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**Author:** ![Nickwoo](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/ccd318/32.png) [@Nickwoo](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/Nickwoo)\
**Post date:** [15 August 2024 09:32 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/timescales-for-non-awol-absconders/2650/2 "2024-08-15T09:32:03Z")

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Hi- no difference between s2 and s3. Patient may not be returned after 14 days starting with the day the patient was last examined by a doctor for the purposes of a medical  
recommendation in support of the application