Brief glossary
Here are some basic terms which you'll need to know to understand at the outset.
- RC – Responsible Clinician – the person in charge of the patient’s treatment. This is usually a consultant psychiatrist but the RC need not be a doctor.
- AMHP - Approved Mental Health Practitioner
- MHT - Mental Health Tribunal. This is the court, held within the hospital grounds, which considers whether the legal criteria for detention are still met, and which discharge if they are not.
- HMH – Hospital Managers’ Hearing. This is an internal body with the power (but not so often the inclination) to discharge patients from section.
- NR – Nearest relative. This person is defined by the MHA, using a list and various rules. This is not the same as a “next of kin”. The patient can now apply to court to have the nearest relative displaced if he is unsuitable.
- MHA - Mental Health Act 1983
- MCA - Mental Capacity Act 2005
- DOLS - Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
- PCT - Primary Care Trust
- LHB - Local Heath Board (Wales)
- LSSA - Local Social Services Authority
- Forensic psychiatry/psychiatrist – relates to patients with a criminal (forensic) history
A full Glossary is also available.
The following category (in the blue box) can be clicked to view a list of other pages in the same category: