The end of indefinitely renewable leave of absence in Scotland: the impact of the Mental Health (Patients in the Community) Act 1995

Atkinson, J.M., Garner, H.C., Gilmour, W.H. and Dyer, J.A.T. (2002) The end of indefinitely renewable leave of absence in Scotland: the impact of the Mental Health (Patients in the Community) Act 1995. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology, 13(2), pp. 298-314. (doi: 10.1080/09585180210150122)

Abstract

The Mental Health (Patients in the Community) Act 1995 restricted leave of absence (LOA) for detained patients in Scotland to 12 months. This study looked at the impact on patients who were affected by this restriction. A total of 266 patients were identified from Mental Welfare Commission records: 194 reached the new maximum, 47 were 'transitional', 16 were on improperly long LOA and 9 were on community care orders (CCOs) following LOA but not maximum LOA. Of this 194, 12 were transferred to guardianship and the remainder became voluntary patients. The responsible medical officers (RMOs) would have liked to renew LOA for 71% of patients. In 90% of cases RMOs renewed LOA to ensure compliance with medication. Patients were significantly more likely to be compliant with medication while on LOA than post-LOA. A minority (28%) were recorded as being involved in 'incidents' post-LOA. There were 37% who were known to have a substance use problem in their management. The results suggest that RMOs may have been conservative in using LOA.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Leave Of Absence; Mental Health Act 1995; Detention; Compliance; Violence; Substance Abuse
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Atkinson, Professor Jacqueline and Gilmour, Mr Harper
• Authors: Atkinson, J.M., Garner, H.C., Gilmour, W.H., and Dyer, J.A.T.
• Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine; K Law > KD England and Wales > KDC Scotland; R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neuroscience. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Clinical Specialities
• Journal Name: Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology
• Publisher: Routledge
• ISSN: 1478-9957
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2002 Routledge
• First Published: First published in Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology 13(2):298-314
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher