GL v Elysium Healthcare [2020] UKUT 308 (AAC)
Unlawful refusal to adjourn It was wrong for the tribunal to have proceeded with the telephone hearing because: (1) the tribunal had, without investigation, assumed that the patient's flatmate (with whom he was self-isolating to avoid coronavirus) could not overhear; (2) the tribunal had improperly dealt with the patient's anxiety: either it had concluded, without investigation, that the anxiety was without foundation (when he had in fact previously been assaulted because other patients discovered his history), or it had believed the same anxiety would arise at a future hearing (when in fact it arose from the specific circumstances that day); it should have considered whether his anxiety was genuine and, if so, the impact on his ability to participate; (3) the tribunal had wrongly approached the adjournment request as if the patient had been concerned with the mode of hearing (i.e. telephone) rather than the fear of being overheard that day.
Thanks
Thanks to Karen Wolton of Wolton & Co Solicitors (solicitor for the patient) for sending this decision.Full judgment: BAILII
Download here
Subject(s):
Date: 9/11/20๐
Court: Upper Tribunal๐
Judge(s):
- Kate Marcus๐
Parties:
Citation number(s):
What links here:- Contributors
- Mental Health Tribunal and coronavirus
- Remote hearings (MHT)
- Jonathan Wilson, 'Mental health: update' (Legal Action, March 2021)
Published: 3/12/20 11:19
Cached: 2025-05-21 07:04:27
The following categories (in blue boxes) can be clicked to view a list of other pages in the same category: