Mental Health( Care and Treatment)(Scotland) Act 2003 Consultation in relation to section 268 appeals against conditions of excessive security

CONSULTATION QUESTIONS

1. Proposals for regulations

Our first proposal for legislative change is that we bring forward regulations in the following terms:

Section 268 of the 2003 Act gives a right of appeal against levels of excessive security for qualifying patients in qualifying hospitals. We propose that a qualifying patient would be -

• an individual who is subject to an order requiring them to be detained in a hospital which operates a medium level of security; and
• who has a report from an approved medical practitioner (as defined by section 22 of the 2003 Act, who is not the patient's current RMO,) which supports the view that detention of the patient in the qualifying hospital involves the patient being subject to a level of security which is excessive in the patient's case.

A qualifying hospital would be one of the following-

• the Orchard Clinic in Edinburgh, and the regional medium secure component of Rohallion in Tayside and Rowanbank in Glasgow

Please tell us about any potential impacts, either positive or negative you feel these proposals for regulations may have.

2 .Our second proposal is that we do not bring forward regulations but instead repeal section 268 at the earliest opportunity. At the same time we will consider the review undertaken by the National Forensic Network of patients detained in the high, medium and low secure estates, which we hope will clarify whether there is an issue with entrapped patients held in these settings. The outcome of this could result in changes to primary legislation in early course. To take that proposal forward we seek views on the following:

• The current appeal provision in section 268 is restrictive and in particular does not allow for a change in security levels within the same hospital setting. Is there a need for a wider provision for an appeal against excessive levels of security?
• If an additional appeal provision is created, do we need to provide for a preliminary review to consider the merits of the appeal before proceeding to a full hearing?
• Compulsory Treatment orders, compulsion and restriction orders and transfer treatment directives are currently reviewed by the Mental Health Tribunal at least once every two years. Levels of security are not necessarily discussed at these reviews. Should there be a requirement for the Tribunal to consider levels of security as a matter of course, with an accompanying right of appeal if the question of level of security has not been considered?
• Can more effective use be made of recorded matters by the Tribunal with regard to levels of security in Compulsory Treatment Order cases ?
• Are there other changes to the review system that you consider may help to support and develop further the effective movement of patients through the secure system?

Please tell us about any potential impacts, positive or negative that you feel any or all of the proposals may have on a particular group or groups of people