Commentary Part 1 – Amendments to Mental Health Act 1983 Overview Section 9: Amendments to Part 2 of 1983 Act
51.Section 9 makes a number of amendments to Part 2 of the 1983 Act (compulsory admission to hospital and guardianship) to substitute the RC for the RMO. It defines the RC, where the patient is liable to be detained or a community patient, as the AC with overall responsibility for the patient's case. Where the patient is subject to guardianship, the RC is defined as the AC authorised by the responsible local social services authority to act (either generally or in amy particular case or for any particular purpose) as the RC.
52.The RC will be responsible for renewing a patient’s detention.  Section 9 will insert a provision into section 20 of the 1983 Act requiring the RC to gain the agreement of another person that the conditions for renewal are met before furnishing a renewal report.  The other person must have been professionally concerned with the patient’s medical treatment and be of a different profession to the responsible clinician.
53.Section 9 also amends section 5(2) and (3) of the 1983 Act so that an AC, in addition to a registered medical practitioner, may hold an inpatient for up to 72 hours from the time a report is furnished to the hospital managers if the AC thinks an application for admission under the Act should be made.