New forms for detaining patients under the Mental Health Act 1983

February 18, 2021

As you may be aware, effective from 1 February 2021 when sectioning a patient under the MHA only the new section papers can be used, these can be found on the intranet or online. The old section papers are now obsolete and cannot be accepted to detain a patient.

Please ensure when completing the forms you carefully read what details are required to be entered and/or omitted to avoid the section papers being returned to you for correction and a possible unlawful detention.

Once completed, section papers must be sent to swbh.mental-health-act@nhs.net in all cases, to be received by the Mental Health Act Administrator.

For any guidance on completing the forms, please contact either sam.takesha@nhs.net or cheryl.stewart2@nhs.net