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Mental Health Community Act(1995)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The purpose of the act, which came into force in April 1996, is 'to provide a system of supervision of care in the community of certain patients who have been detained in hospital':

  • in England and Wales the responsible medical officer applies for 'after-care under supervision' (ACUS) to the health authority 6-monthly for the first year then yearly.
  • application can only be made in respect of a patient currently liable to be detained in hospital.
  • the patient must be 16 or older and mentally disordered.
  • there could be serious risk of harm to the patient or others if they were not to receive further care services.
  • supervision will help to ensure receipt of further care services.
  • the patient cannot be treated against their will but can be conveyed to a day centre or hospital.

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