The Act – Overview Removal to and detention in hospital Section 43 Order for detention in hospital
85.This section sets out the circumstances in which a sheriff may grant an order for detention in hospital and what that order must contain. The sheriff must be satisfied that the criteria for a detention order have been met. The order can authorise the detention of a person in hospital for a maximum period of three weeks and the taking of steps (if any) set out in section 46(2) as the sheriff considers appropriate.
86.Subsection (4) sets out what an order under this section must specify: the person to whom it applies; the hospital in which the person is to be detained; the period for which the person is to be detained; and the steps (if any) to be undertaken as set out in section 46(2). The order must be notified to the person to whom it applies, any person to whom an explanation was given under section 31, and any other person whom the sheriff considers appropriate.
87.Health boards can apply to extend the duration of the order (section 49) and to vary the steps authorised or conditions imposed by the order (section 50).