The NHS is responsible for finding a hospital that is best able to care for the person, but this may not be close to where they live. Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust provides most of the mental health hospitals in West Sussex.
If there is a delay before a hospital is found, the person should be given extra support at home to keep them safe from harm. This might include being provided with some medication on a temporary basis.
How will the person get to the hospital?
The AMHP is responsible for arranging the transport to take the person to hospital. This will usually be an NHS ambulance, but sometimes it may be necessary to use a private secure ambulance for safety reasons and to manage risk.
What will happen when the person arrives at the hospital?
The hospital staff will introduce them to the facilities and show them to their room. Mental health hospitals have single en-suite rooms and shared dining and leisure facilities. There may be a gym, quiet lounge or enclosed garden that the person can use.
The person will be told how their care and treatment will be arranged, and whether there are any restrictions that they need to be aware of.
By law, the person’s rights of appeal must be explained to them.
The arrangements for visitors to the hospital will also be explained to them.
As the nearest relative, you must also have your rights explained to you.
You should expect to be kept informed of the person’s stay in hospital. However, in almost all cases, information will not be shared with you if the person objects.
You may also be consulted about some treatment decisions. The hospital will give you more details, in writing, when the person is detained.
How long will the person stay in hospital?
The main priority is to help the person get better and support them to leave hospital when the time is right. They will only leave when they no longer need hospital care, and it is safe for them to do so.
Soon after the person arrives in hospital, the team on the ward will work with the person to plan for when they leave. Their carers, family and friends will be involved if the person would like them to
be included.
The person could be referred to mental health services in their local community. If the person is already in contact with any of the services, that service should get in touch with the person before they leave hospital.
If the person has been detained under section 3 of the act, there must be a formal meeting to decide how health and social care services will support them when they leave hospital.
If the person has been admitted as a voluntary patient, they will need to speak to the medical and nursing staff about what they want to achieve from their stay in hospital, and work out a plan together.
The person will have the right to contact and be represented (free of charge) by the Independent Mental Health Advocacy Service (IMHA). The IMHA is independent of mental health services and can speak on the person’s behalf and tell the person about the rights they have by law. Staff on the ward will give the person more details on IMHA.