Mental Health Act 1959
7 & 8 Eliz. 2 c. 72 · Enacted 29 July 1959 · Extends to England, Wales and Scotland
An Act to repeal the Lunacy and Mental Treatment Acts 1890 to 1930, and the Mental Deficiency Acts 1913 to 1938, and to make fresh provision with respect to the treatment and care of mentally disordered persons and with respect to their property and affairs; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid.
Annotations to the whole text
Modifications
- C1
Functions of Minister of Health under this Act now exercisable by Secretary of State: S.I. 1968/1699, art. 2
Act: Functions of a Minister of the Crown transferred to the Assembly (W.) (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/672, art. 2, Sch. 1
Commencement
- I1
Act not in force at Royal Assent by virtue of s. 153(1)(2) (now repealed); Act wholly in force at 1.11.1960
Contents
- Part I: Preliminary
- 1—5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Part II: Local Authority Services
- General Provisions
- 6, 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 8Functions of welfare authorities.
- 9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 11—13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Part III: Mental Nursing Homes, Residential Homes, etc.
- 14—18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 19—21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 23Section 23
- 24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Part IV: Compulsory Admission to Hospital and Guardianship
- 25—35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 37—43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 45—59. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Part V: Admission of Patients Concerned in Criminal Proceedings, etc., and Transfer of Patients under Sentence
- 60. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 61. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 62—68. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 69. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 70—76. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 77, 78. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 79. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 80. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Part VI: Removal and Return of Patients within United Kingdom, etc.
- 81. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 82—84. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 85. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 87. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 89, 90. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 91. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 92—96. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Part VII: Special Hospitals
- 97, 98. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 99. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Part VIII: Management of Property and Affairs of Patients
- 100—119. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 120. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 121. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Part IX: Miscellaneous and General
- 122—124. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- Offences
- 125, 126. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 127Amendment of Sexual Offences Act, 1956. Repealed
- 128Sexual intercourse with patients. Repealed
- 129, 130. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 131Prosecutions by local authorities.
- Miscellaneous provisions
- 132, 133. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 134. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 135—138. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 139—141Supplemental Repealed
- 142Default powers of Minister.
- 143Inquiries. Repealed
- 144Expenses.
- 145General provisions as to regulations, orders and rules.
- 146. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 147, 148. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 149Minor and consequential amendments and repeals.
- 150Application to Scotland.
- 151. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 152Application to Northern Ireland.
- 153. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Repealed
- 154Short title and application to Scilly Isles.
- Schedule FIRST. . .
- Schedule SECOND. . .
- Schedule THIRD. . .
- Schedule FOURTH. . .
- Schedule FIFTH. . .
- Schedule SIXTH: Transitional Provisions
- Part I
- 1, 2Paragraph 1, 2 Repealed
- Part II
- 3—6Paragraph 3—6 Repealed
- Part III: Provisions relating to Parts IV and V
- 7—14Paragraph 7—14 Repealed
- Transferred patients
- 15Paragraph 15
- 16—23Paragraph 16—23 Repealed
- Part IV
- 24—28Paragraph 24—28 Repealed
- Schedule Seventh: MINOR AND CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS
- Part I
- AMENDMENTS EXTENDING TO ENGLAND AND WALES ONLY
- Paragraph
- IIOTHER AMENDMENTS
- Schedule EIGHTHSchedule EIGHTH
1—5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
6, 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
8Functions of welfare authorities. E+W
For the purposes of subsection (8) of section twenty-one of the M1 National Assistance Act 1948 (which restricts the duties of local authorities in respect of the provision of accommodation under that section by reference to the provision authorised or required to be made under other enactments) no account shall be taken of the provision authorised or required to be made by F2 local social services authorities under F3 paragraph 2 of Schedule 8 to the M2 National Health Service Act 1977 , with respect to residential accommodation for persons who are or have been suffering from mental disorder.
F4The persons referred to in subsection (1) of section twenty-nine of the said Act of 1948 (which section enables local authorities to make arrangements for promoting the welfare of blind persons and other disabled persons described in the said subsection (1)) shall include mentally disordered persons of any description; and for the purposes of subsection (6) of that section (which, among other things, excludes from that section the provision of accommodation or services required to be provided under the M3National Health Service Act 1946), no account shall be taken of the provisions of F5Schedule 20 to the National Health Service Act 2006 or Schedule 15 to the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006, with respect to the provision of accommodation or services for such persons.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Nothing in this section shall be construed as requiring a local authority to make provision for the same purposes both under . . . F7 Part III of the M4National Assistance Act 1948 F8and under F9Schedule 20 to the National Health Service Act 2006 or Schedule 15 to the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006.
9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W
10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
11—13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
14—18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
19—21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
23
24. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
25—35. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
37—43. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
44. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
45—59. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
60. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
61. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
62—68. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
69. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
70—76. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
77, 78. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
79. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
80. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
81. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
82—84. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
85. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
87. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
89, 90. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
91. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
92—96. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
97, 98. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
99. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
100—119. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
120. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
121. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
122—124. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
125, 126. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
127Amendment of Sexual Offences Act, 1956.F1
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
128Sexual intercourse with patients.F1 E+W
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
129, 130. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1
131Prosecutions by local authorities.
A F1local social services authority may institute proceedings for any offence under this Part of this Act, but without prejudice to any provision of this Part of this Act requiring the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions for the institution of such proceedings.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2
132, 133. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W
134. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W
135—138. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W
139—141Supplemental E+W
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1
142Default powers of Minister. E+W
Where the Minister is of opinion, on complaint or otherwise, that a F1local social services authority have failed to carry out functions conferred or imposed on the authority by or under this Act or have in carrying out those functions failed to comply with any regulations relating thereto, he may after such inquiry as he thinks fit make an order declaring the authority to be in default.
F2Section 68(4) of the National Health Service Act 2006, and section 28(4) of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006 (which relate to orders declaring, among others, a local authority to be in default under that Act) shall apply in relation to an order under this section as they apply in relation to an order under that section.
143Inquiries.F1 E+W
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
144Expenses. E+W
There shall be defrayed out of moneys provided by Parliament—
any expenses incurred by the Minister or a Secretary of State under this Act;
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1
any increase attributable to this Act in the sums payable out of moneys provided by Parliament under any other enactment.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2
145General provisions as to regulations, orders and rules.
146. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W
147, 148. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W
149Minor and consequential amendments and repeals. E+W
The enactments described in the first column of the Seventh Schedule to this Act shall have effect subject to the amendments specified in the second column of that Schedule, being minor amendments and amendments consequential on the foregoing provisions of this Act.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2
150Application to Scotland.
The following provisions of this Act shall extend to Scotland, that is to say—
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2
section one hundred and forty-five so far as applicable to any Order in Council extending to Scotland;
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Part II of the Seventh Schedule;
Part II of the Eighth Schedule;
but except as aforesaid, and except so far as it relates to the interpretation or commencement of the said provisions, this Act shall not extend to Scotland.
151. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W
152Application to Northern Ireland. E+W
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1, this Act shall not extend to Northern Ireland.
153. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F1 E+W
154Short title and application to Scilly Isles. E+W
Schedule FIRST. . .F1 E+W
Schedule SECOND. . .F1 E+W
Schedule THIRD. . .F1 E+W
Schedule FOURTH. . .F1 E+W
Schedule FIFTH. . .F1 E+W
1, 2
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1
3—6
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1
7—14
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1
15
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1
Section eighty-four of this Act shall apply to a transferred patient who having been a state mental patient in Scotland was immediately before the commencement of this Act liable to be detained in a hospital in England and Wales by virtue of subsection (3) of section sixty-three of the M1Criminal Justice Act 1948, or subsection (2) of section sixty-four of the M2Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1949, as if he had been removed to such a hospital from Scotland in pursuance of an order under the said subsection (2); and where he is treated by virtue of the said section eighty-four as if he had been removed to a hospital in pursuance of a transfer direction, he shall also be treated as if a direction restricting his discharge had been given as aforesaid.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16—23
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1
24—28
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1
E+W
| Enactment | Amendment |
|---|---|
| F1. . . | . . . |
| . . . F2 | |
| . . . F3 | |
| . . . F4 | . . . |
| . . . | . . . |
| . . . F5 | . . . |
| The Colonial Prisoners Removal Act, 1884, 47 & 48 Vict. c. 31. | In section ten, after subsection (2), there shall be added the following subsection—
|
| Enactment | Amendment |
|---|---|
| . . . F6 | . . . |
| The Settled Land Act, 1925, 15 & 16 Geo. 5. c. 18. | In section sixty-eight, in subsection (3), for the words “a lunatic, or a defective” there shall be substituted the words “suffering from mental disorder”. |
| The Trustee Act, 1925, 15 & 16 Geo. 5. c. 19. | In section thirty-six, the following subsection shall be substituted for subsection (9)—
|
| Enactment | Amendment |
|---|---|
| In section forty-one, in subsection (1), for the words “a lunatic or a defective” there shall be substituted the words “incapable, by reason of mental disorder within the meaning of the Mental Health Act, 1959, of exercising his functions a s trustee”. | |
The following section shall be substituted for section fifty-four—
|
| Enactment | Amendment |
|---|---|
| . . . | |
| The Law of Property Act, 1925, 15 & 16 Geo. 5. c. 20. | The following section shall be substituted for section twenty-two—
|
| Enactment | Amendment |
|---|---|
| F9. . . | . . . |
| The Administration of Estates Act, 1925, 15 & 16 Geo. 5. c.23. | In section forty-one, in subsection (1), in paragaph (ii) of the proviso, for the words “a lunatic or defective” there shall be substituted the words “is incapable, by reason of mental disorder within the meaning of the Mental Health Act, 1959, of managing and administering his property and affairs” and the word “committee” shall be omitted, and in paragraph (iv) of the proviso, for the words from “committee” to “appointed” there shall be substituted the words “receiver is acting for a person suffering from mental disorder”, and for the words “lunatic or defective” in the second place where they occur there shall be substituted the words “said person”. |
| . . . F10 | . . . |
| F11. . . | . . . |
| . . . | |
| . . . F12 | . . . |
| . . . F13 | . . . |
| . . . F14 | . . . |
| . . . | . . . |
| . . . F15 | . . . |
| . . . F16 | . . . |
| . . . F17 | . . . |
| . . . F18 | . . . |
| . . . | . . . |
| . . . F19 | . . . |
| . . . F20 | . . . |
| . . . F21 | . . . |
| . . . F22 | . . . |
| . . . | . . . |
| . . . F23 | . . . |
| . . . F24 | . . . |
| . . . F25 | . . . |
| . . . F26 | . . . |
| The Sexual Offences Act,1956, 4 & 5 Eliz. 2. c. 69. | In the Second Schedule, in paragraph 1, in the fourth column, for the words “an idiot or imbecile” there shall be substituted the words “a defective”; in paragraph 11 in the first column, for the words “idiot or imbeclie” there shall be substituted the word “defective”; and in paragraph 14, in the fourth column, for the words “an idiot or imbecile” there shall be substituted the words “a defective”. |
| . . . F27 | . . . |
| . . . F28 | . . . |
| . . . | . . . |
| . . . | . . . |
IIOTHER AMENDMENTS
Schedule EIGHTHF1
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .