OFFICIAL – SENSITIVE - PERSONAL

Directorate for Population Health
Mental Health and Protection of Rights Division
Restricted Patients Branch
T: 0131-244 2510 F: 0131-244 2846
E:
E: / 
To all professionals managing restricted patients / 

CONTACTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, RESTRICTED PATIENT TEAM “OUT OF HOURS” SERVICE – GUIDANCE FOR PROFESSIONALS

OUT OF HOURS NUMBER 07557848719

1.RESTRICTED PATIENTS

The restricted patient team only deals with restricted patients detained under the following legislation:

Remand and Pre Disposal Orders

S52B-J of the 1995 Act – Assessment Order

S52K-S of the 1995 Act - A treatment order

S53 or S57(3)(bb) of the 1995 Act – An Interim Compulsion Order

Restricted Patients

S57 A and 59 of the 1995 Act – Compulsion Order and Restriction Order

S57(2)(a) and (b) of the 1995 Act – Compulsion Order and Restriction Order

S59A of the 1995 – transferred prisoner

S136 of the 2003 Act – transferred prisoner

2.SERVICE OPERATING HOURS

Our standard office hours are –

08:30 – 17:00 Monday to Thursday, and

08:30 – 16:30 on Friday.

The out of hours service becomes active out with these hours and also provides cover for emergencies/urgent calls during public holidays and other office closures.

3.WHEN TO CALL “OUT OF HOURS” SERVICE

Restricted patient team operates an “out of hours” service to make urgent or emergency decisions for restricted patients.

The majority of restricted and remand patients will already have consent for all necessary clinical outings and therefore it is not necessary to telephone out of hours to advise when a patient has been taken to, or returned from, hospital. . Where this applies, simply inform us of events on the next working day or advise us by e-mail (see 5 below).

The decisions or events which are likely to involve calls to the “out of hours” service include:

  • Where urgent/clinical SUS has not previously been granted
  • Urgent recalls from Conditional Discharge in the community to hospital
  • Urgent compassionate leave – not already agreed or part of a SUS plan
  • Urgent upward transfers between hospitals (into conditions of higher security)
  • Significant developments in cases for mentally disordered offenders who have a high profile nationally
  • Absconds/Escapes
  • Hostage incidents or patient disturbances
  • If a patient has committed a serious offence and been arrested
  • If urgent advice is needed from a senior restricted patient team member about a restricted patient

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SERVICE APPLIES TO MATTERS OF URGENCY ONLY AND WHICH CANNOT WAIT UNTIL NORMAL OFFICE HOURS. ROUTINE ENQUIRIES ABOUT PATIENTS WILL NOT BE DEALT WITH BY THE DUTY OFFICER

4. HOW THE “OUT OF HOURS” SERVICE WORKS

Callers contact the duty officer on 07557848719. It may be necessary to leave a message in which case please ensure the following is recorded:

  • Name and contact number for caller
  • Name of patient
  • Relevant section the patient is detained under
  • The reason for the call
  • Whether the caller needs to speak to RP Duty Officer (YES/NO)

If the duty officer does not return your call within 30 minutes, please contact VQ Security on 0131 244 5203 providing name and contact number. They will then obtain an alternative duty officer who will call you back.

5.WHEN TO EMAIL THE RELEVANT TEAM INBOX “OUT OF HOURS”

If you simply wish to pass on non urgent, non emergency information such as

  • clinical emergency where permission already granted,
  • return of patient from hospital,
  • death of patient in non suspicious circumstances
  • any other non urgent matter

It is sufficient that an email be sent to the generic Restricted Patient team inbox - from where it will be dealt with during standard office hours.

Yours sincerely

ROSEMARY TOAL

Team Leader

Room 2N.02, St Andrew’s House, Edinburgh, EH1 3DG