Standards on the use of Section 136
Standards on the use of Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (2007) - (version for England)
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has produced a set of standards giving guidance on the use of Section 136. It advocates the provision of dedicated assessment facilities in mental health units, which are adequately staffed. The standards are endorsed by the College of Emergency Medicine.
It includes 24 separate recommendations focusing on:
- Physical standards of places of safety
- Staffing issues
- Conveyance of patients between places of safety
- Local Policy and monitoring of standards (both at the local and the national level).
A key feature of the report is that Emergency Departments should only be used as a place of safety when medical problems are suspected.