The Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986

Applications and references concerning Part II patientsN.I.

Applications to the tribunal under Part IIN.I.

71.—(1) Where a patient is detained in a hospital by virtue of any report under Article 9 or 12(1), he may apply to the Review Tribunal within the period of 6 months beginning with the date of admission.

(2) Where a patient is received into guardianship in pursuance of a guardianship application, he may apply to the Review Tribunal within the period of 6 months beginning with the day on which the application is accepted.

(3) Where the authority for the detention of a patient is renewed under Article 13 or the authority for the guardianship of a patient is renewed under Article 23, the patient may apply to the Review Tribunal at any time before the expiration of the period for which the authority is so renewed.

(4) Where—

(a)a report is furnished under Article 14(4) in respect of a patient; or

(b)reports are furnished under both sub-paragraph (a) and sub-paragraph (b) of paragraph (4) of Article 24 in respect of a patient,

the nearest relative of the patient may apply to the Review Tribunal in respect of the patient within the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which he is informed of that fact under Article 14(7) or, as the case may be, Article 24(7).

(5) Where an order is made under Article 36 in respect of a patient who is or subsequently becomes liable to be detained or subject to guardianship under Part II, the nearest relative of the patient may apply to the Review Tribunal in respect of the patient within the period of 12 months beginning with the date of the order and in any subsequent period of 12 months during which the order continues in force.

References of cases of Part II patients to the tribunalN.I.

72.—(1) The Attorney General, the Department or, on the direction of the High Court, the Master (Care and Protection) may at any time refer to the Review Tribunal the case of any patient who is liable to be detained or subject to guardianship under Part II.

(2) For the purpose of furnishing information for the purposes of a reference under paragraph (1) any medical practitioner authorised by or on behalf of the patient may at any reasonable time visit the patient and examine him in private and require the production of and inspect any records relating to the detention or treatment of the patient in any hospital.

Duty on [F1responsible authorities] to refer cases to the tribunalN.I.

73.—(1) If the authority for the detention of a patient in a hospital or his guardianship under Part II is renewed under Article 13 or 23 and a period of 2 years (or, if the patient has not attained the age of 16 years, one year) has elapsed since his case was last considered by the Review Tribunal, whether on his own application or otherwise, the responsible[F2 authority] shall refer his case to the tribunal.

(2) For the purpose of furnishing information for the purposes of any reference under this Article, any medical practitioner authorised by or on behalf of the patient may at any reasonable time visit the patient and examine him in private and require the production of and inspect any records relating to the detention or treatment of the patient in any hospital.

(3) The Department may by order vary the length of the periods mentioned in paragraph (1).