Mental Health Act 2001 · Updated to 1 Feb 2014 · Part III · Discharge, Leave of Absence and Transfer of Involuntary Patients from Psychiatric Hospital
17. Leave of absence
Feedback & supportThe Medical Director may, if he considers it to be in the best interest of the patient, allow an involuntary patient to be absent for a period of not more than one month, subject to such conditions as the Medical Director considers appropriate, from the psychiatric hospital into which he is admitted.
Medical Director
“Medical Director” means— (a) the Medical Director of a psychiatric hospital appointed under subsection 5(1) or section 6, as the case may be, and includes a Deputy Medical Director appointed under the section; and (b) the Head of Psychiatry appointed under subsection 5(2);
The Medical Director may extend the period of absence by further leave not exceeding one month in the absence of the patient.
If it appears to the Medical Director that it is necessary to do so in the interest of the patient’s health or safety or for the protection of other persons, or if the patient is in breach of any condition imposed under subsection (1), he may revoke the leave of absence allowed to an involuntary patient and require the patient to return to the psychiatric hospital.
involuntary patient
“involuntary patient” means a person admitted into a psychiatric hospital under section 10, or detained in the hospital under subsection 9(5) or 14(1) or 14(3), or received into a psychiatric hospital by an order of Court under section 73;