Royal College of Emergency Medicine, 'A brief guide to Section 136 for Emergency Departments' (December 2017)
Section 136 guidance Summary of recommendations (taken from report): "(1) When a patient is brought to the ED under section 136 of the Mental Health Act; the nurse in charge and a senior clinician should review the patient with the police and ambulance crew to assess their medical needs and review their risks to self and others. (2) The 24 hour duration of the section 136 commences on arrival at the Emergency Department, even if the patient is transferred subsequently to a 136 suite. The time of arrival should be noted and recorded. (3) Patients should be informed of their rights in the Emergency Department and kept updated of the plan for their care and assessment. (4) Referral for Mental Health Act assessment should occur on arrival in the ED or as soon as a patient is medically fit for assessment. Where possible medical treatment should occur alongside psychiatric assessment. (5) Police are responsible for the safety of a patient on a section 136. If an Emergency Department allows the police to leave, they take on this responsibility and should be confident they have staff and resources to deal with the risk of the patient absconding."