scholarly journals The Responsible Medical Officer and Mental Health Review Tribunals

1990 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 336-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. E. Langley

The RMO who is well informed about his patient, and conversant with the law in respect of the particular problems that the case presents, has little to fear from Tribunal proceedings. Nevertheless to have to write reports and insert, into a busy timetable, often at short notice, a sometimes lengthy Tribunal is an irritation which can have an adverse effect on both knowledge of the case and on objectivity.

1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 197-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sir John Wood

The proceedings of a mental health review tribunal involve two psychiatrists – one to be found among its members and the other (having care of the patient) who appears before the tribunal as the responsible medical officer (RMO). Both have a very important role to play and the juxtaposition of two psychiatrists guarantees a lively debate at many tribunal hearings.


1991 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 721-722
Author(s):  
Louis Blom-Cooper

When the Liverpool Daily Post, its sister paper, the Liverpool Echo, and the Daily Mail published inflammatory material about a restricted patient at Park Lane Special Hospital (now Ashworth (North) Special Hospital) their editors were strongly warned by the House of Lords that they would be well advised to exercise greater care in future, that they did not overstep the mark and find themselves in contempt of court. The newspapers won their appeal because the law allowed them to report the fact that a restricted patient had applied to a Mental Health Review Tribunal for his discharge, the date and place of the hearing of the application and any order made discharging the patient, absolutely or conditionally. But the law does not give the papers carte blanche to comment on a case in order to mount a campaign of public protest against the patient's release.


1984 ◽  
Vol 29 (9) ◽  
pp. 701-702
Author(s):  
R. Matthew Reese ◽  
Jan B. Sheldon

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 253-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abirami Kirubarajan ◽  
Stephen Puntis ◽  
Devon Perfect ◽  
Marc Tarbit ◽  
Mary Buckman ◽  
...  

Aims and methodStreet triage services are increasingly common and part of standard responses to mental health crises in the community, but little is understood about them. We conducted a national survey of mental health trusts to gather detailed information regarding street triage services alongside a survey of Thames Valley police officers to ascertain their views and experiences.ResultsTriage services are available in most areas of the country and are growing in scope. There is wide variation in levels of funding and modes of operation, including hours covered. Police officers from our survey overwhelmingly support such services and would like to see them expanded.Clinical implicationsMental health crises now form a core part of policing and there are compelling reasons for the support of specialist services. Recent changes to the law have heightened this need, with a requirement for specialist input before a Section 136 is enacted. Those who have experienced triage services report it as less stigmatising and traumatic than a traditional approach, but there remains little evidence on which to base decisions.Declaration of interestNone.


2019 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Cresswell

This article provides a critical viewpoint on Loughran’s recent work in Medicine, Science and the Law on the causes of the rise in the police’s use of section 136 (s136) of the Mental Health Act 1983 (Loughran M. Detention under section 136: why is it increasing? Med Sci Law 2018; 58: 268–274). The rate of this rise seems significant: by 2014, it was five times more likely that a person in England would be detained in a hospital under s136 than it was in 2000, and the trend has continued to the present day. This viewpoint considers the significance of the s136 rise from the theoretical perspective of causal analysis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 104 (3) ◽  
pp. 003685042110261
Author(s):  
Filip Mijovic ◽  
Stuart James ◽  
Bindhiya Thomas ◽  
Mohit Bhatia ◽  
Guillaume Lafaurie ◽  
...  

The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic called for the restructuring of National Health Service (NHS) surgical departments across the country. Initial guidance advised that patients undergoing elective surgery isolate for 14 days prior to their operation. As we learnt more about COVID-19 and its incubation period, at the Princess Royal University Hospital this guidance has been decreased to 72 h. We collected retrospective data for two patient cohorts that underwent elective surgery in June and September 2020, isolating for 14 days and 72 h, respectively. We followed-up these patients with several questions allowing us to categorise the cohorts into three groups based on their compliance with isolation measures and also to assess their satisfaction with the isolation process. Our data shows that only 16% of the June cohort and 53% of the September cohort isolated in accordance with the guidelines whilst patient satisfaction was 16% and 64% respectively. These results highlight a suboptimal compliance to pre-operative guidelines as well as an adverse effect on patient mental health and raise the issue of both patient and NHS staff safety. With the possibility of a COVID-19 second wave and for future pandemics, a clear evidence-based plan for pre-operative isolation is vital. Furthermore, consideration of patient adherence and satisfaction is key in deciding which guideline will be most effective.


1990 ◽  
Vol 156 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.-W. Harding

Dr Montagu Lomax worked as an assistant medical officer at Prestwich Asylum for two years from 1917. His book,The Experiences of an Asylum Doctor,was published in 1921. He was condemned by the psychiatric establishment for his description of inhuman, custodial, and antitherapeutic conditions. Access to previously confidential official papers, to the archives of Prestwich Hospital, and to Professor George Robertson's correspondence has permitted a reconstruction of the Lomax affair. Lomax was a dedicated and sincere clinician. Senior Ministry of Health officials regarded Lomax's book as “temperate”, “well founded”, and an opportunity to secure public support for long needed legal and administrative reforms. Through his book, Lomax made a lasting contribution to the cause of mental health reform.


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