Commentary Part 1 – Amendments to Mental Health Act 1983 Overview Section 10: Amendments to Part 3 of 1983 Act
54.Section 10 makes similar amendments to Part 3 of the 1983 Act (patients concerned in criminal proceedings etc). It also provides that certain functions currently restricted to registered medical practitioners (who need not be RMOs) will in future be exercisable as well, or instead, by ACs. For example, it will be possible for an AC as well as any registered medical practitioner to be responsible for the report on the medical condition of a person remanded to hospital for that purpose under section 35 of the 1983 Act. Section 10 of the 2007 Act does not, however, change the requirements for courts to have evidence from registered medical practitioners before deciding to impose a hospital order or make other orders or remands under Part 3.