# \#awol **URL:** https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/tag/awol/88.md [Latest](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/latest.md) · [Categories](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/categories.md) · [Tags](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/tags.md) --- ## [Patient on S3 goes AWOL and travels abroad for longer than a year - what happens?](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/patient-on-s3-goes-awol-and-travels-abroad-for-longer-than-a-year-what-happens/5221)
**Author:** [@Christoph](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/Christoph)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [24 February 2026 17:12 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/patient-on-s3-goes-awol-and-travels-abroad-for-longer-than-a-year-what-happens/5221 "2026-02-24T17:12:13Z")
Scenario: Inpatient on S3 of the MHA has gone abroad for over a year now and is living abroad without any idea if he/she will be coming back. What would happen and what a consultant have to decide based on this and kno… --- ## [Patient detained on S3 gone AWOL abroad - S3 expires and still not returned - what happens?](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/patient-detained-on-s3-gone-awol-abroad-s3-expires-and-still-not-returned-what-happens/5136)
**Author:** [@Christoph](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/Christoph)\ **Replies:** 10\ **Last updated:** [15 February 2026 20:46 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/patient-detained-on-s3-gone-awol-abroad-s3-expires-and-still-not-returned-what-happens/5136 "2026-02-15T20:46:36Z")
Hi everyone, I have case whereby a patient who is detained under S3 has gone AWOL from an inpatient ward in the UK. The patient at hand has gone abroad but nobody knows where to. It has been 6 weeks now and the patient… --- ## [What to do if a patient has gone AWOL for over 3-4 weeks and on S3](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/what-to-do-if-a-patient-has-gone-awol-for-over-3-4-weeks-and-on-s3/4048)
**Author:** [@Christoph](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/Christoph)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [10 August 2025 18:50 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/what-to-do-if-a-patient-has-gone-awol-for-over-3-4-weeks-and-on-s3/4048 "2025-08-10T18:50:53Z")
Hi, I was wondering what happens to a patient that has been sectioned/detained under the MHA on S3 and gone AWOl (missing) for over 3-4 weeks now. The patient is still designated her bedroom but would it be the case th… --- ## [Does s3 end when patient has been AWOL for six weeks?](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/does-s3-end-when-patient-has-been-awol-for-six-weeks/3511)
**Author:** [@Bear76](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/Bear76)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [31 March 2025 14:32 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/does-s3-end-when-patient-has-been-awol-for-six-weeks/3511 "2025-03-31T14:32:14Z")
If someone is on a section 3 can the section be rescinded if the person has been AWOL for 6 weeks even though the section 3 has not expired and the person is still not well? Im being told that according to The Mental H… --- ## [Returning AWOL on s5(2)](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/returning-awol-on-s5-2/3514)
**Author:** [@anonymous63](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/anonymous63)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [29 March 2025 23:28 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/returning-awol-on-s5-2/3514 "2025-03-29T23:28:16Z")
If someone who is subject to detention under S5(2) absconds from hospital and is deemed as AWOL (s18), and they are found in a private dwelling (their home), what are the powers for removal. My thoughts are that to take… --- ## [Section 47/49 Absconder](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/section-47-49-absconder/3347)
**Author:** [@MentalHealthCop](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/MentalHealthCop)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [27 February 2025 16:27 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/section-47-49-absconder/3347 "2025-02-27T16:27:27Z")
I’d previously never given thought to the idea a s47/49 patient, transferred from prison after being convicted for an offence and imprisoned for it, would then be granted authorised leave from hospital. In my hypothetic… --- ## [AWOL or Missing (Liable to be detained)](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/awol-or-missing-liable-to-be-detained/3270)
**Author:** [@MHLOThomas](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/MHLOThomas)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [17 February 2025 12:41 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/awol-or-missing-liable-to-be-detained/3270 "2025-02-17T12:41:55Z")
The scenario is this - patient assessed at home by AMHP and ambulance are there ready to convey. The person does not want to go to hospital and runs off. An application has already been made to a named bed and as such th… --- ## [CTO recall, renewal, AWOL status](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/cto-recall-renewal-awol-status/3009)
**Author:** [@anonymous34](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/anonymous34)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [3 December 2024 19:51 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/cto-recall-renewal-awol-status/3009 "2024-12-03T19:51:48Z")
Hi Patient subject to CTO which would have expired on the 06/07/2024. Recall notice completed for purpose of examining/renewing the CTO came into legal effect on the 21/06/2024 naming Hospital A. Extended CTO due to A… --- ## [Transfer of a patient who is AWOL](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/transfer-of-a-patient-who-is-awol/2824)
**Author:** [@anonymous50](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/anonymous50)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [14 October 2024 06:31 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/transfer-of-a-patient-who-is-awol/2824 "2024-10-14T06:31:03Z")
Hi Patient detained to an out of area private hospital under s2. He went AWOL a couple of days after admission. ICB in home area wants the patient discharged from section in his absence so they don’t have to fund the b… --- ## [CTO patient on remand](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/cto-patient-on-remand/2686)
**Author:** [@anonymous34](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/anonymous34)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [7 September 2024 09:21 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/cto-patient-on-remand/2686 "2024-09-07T09:21:49Z")
Hi Brain is a bit fried today - and nothing I’m reading seems to make sense. Patient on a 6 month CTO due to expire on the 2nd October 2024. Patient is currently in remand in prison awaiting sentencing. I understand i… --- ## [Timescales for non-AWOL absconders](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/timescales-for-non-awol-absconders/2650)
**Author:** [@MentalHealthCop](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/MentalHealthCop)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [15 August 2024 09:32 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/timescales-for-non-awol-absconders/2650 "2024-08-15T09:32:03Z")
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… --- ## [S2 detained patient now AWOL](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/s2-detained-patient-now-awol/1980)
**Author:** [@AbbeyWeston](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/AbbeyWeston)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [3 November 2023 09:01 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/s2-detained-patient-now-awol/1980 "2023-11-03T09:01:35Z")
A patient who is detained under S2 has gone AWOL with the S2 expiring in a few days. Please could I have advice on any procedures I, as an MHAA would have to carry out if they do not return before the S2 --- ## [Nearest Relative request to discharge AWOL patient](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/nearest-relative-request-to-discharge-awol-patient/1885)
**Author:** [@Beatrice](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/Beatrice)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [26 September 2023 20:59 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/nearest-relative-request-to-discharge-awol-patient/1885 "2023-09-26T20:59:58Z")
A patient was taken out by the nearest relative on escorted leave. NR has refused to bring them back after the leave expired and has now written to request to discharge. I am thinking NR request to discharge is to disc… --- ## [Power to detain AWOL patients](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/power-to-detain-awol-patients/1824)
**Author:** [@NW2521](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/NW2521)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [1 September 2023 16:41 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/power-to-detain-awol-patients/1824 "2023-09-01T16:41:51Z")
Can I ask for some advice please on the below, Section 18 MHA provides a power for an AWOL patient to to be detained and returned to hospital. Recently I have been told by a few colleagues that this power only applies … --- ## [CTO Patients in Prison](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/cto-patients-in-prison/1181)
**Author:** [@MHAA](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/MHAA)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [21 August 2022 21:12 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/cto-patients-in-prison/1181 "2022-08-21T21:12:32Z")
When a patient is subject to a CTO but then they are placed in prison are they still subject to the CTO? If so, who is responsible for their care such as consent to treatment and renewals? --- ## [What is the offence if someone assists a forensic inpatient abscond?](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/what-is-the-offence-if-someone-assists-a-forensic-inpatient-abscond/934)
**Author:** [@Beelawtutor](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/Beelawtutor)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [18 May 2022 17:17 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/what-is-the-offence-if-someone-assists-a-forensic-inpatient-abscond/934 "2022-05-18T17:17:43Z")
S128 applies to those under Part II. what about those under forensic section e.g. 35,36,38, etc . (S37 and S37/41 come under Part II for AWOL/absconding). this is just an academic question. thank you