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Aftercare under S117

Section 117 MHA applies to all persons who have been detained under s.3, s.37, 45A, 47, 47/49, 48 and 48/49. It does not apply to s.2 patients.

This section imposes a legal duty on the clinical commissioning group or Local Health Board and of the local Social Services authority to provide aftercare services for the above mentioned detained patients until the local social services authority are satisfied that the person concerned is no longer in need of such a service (if they are on a CTO then s.117 will apply and a patient cannot be discharged from services whilst subject to this order).

The duty begins when a patient leaves hospital, however the Code of Conduct states that after-care planning should commence as soon as the patient is admitted to hospital.