Patient was detained by police on 17/08/2025 and taken to A&E. An AMHP and two doctors assessed her on 19/08/2025 and signed the section 3 application on the same date. However, the H3 form states in Part A that the patient was admitted on 21/08/2025 at 11:30 am, and the H3 was also signed on 21/08/2025.
Does her section start on 21/08/2025 or on 19/08/2025? According to H3 it starts on 21/08/2025, what happens to the days she spent in A&E, and why are they not counted?
Interesting question.
I am assuming the s.2 MHA (1983) was not necessary . An application is time served when it is delivered to the officer or managers who is authorised to receive it, electronically or otherwise by the admitting hospital managers. Thus, the clock started running on the: 21.08.25. Willing to hear others views.
The other days were due to A & E treatment and hence discounted since the application was not accepted by the A & E on the behalf of the hospital managers.