# Mental Health Act 2025, Section 26: Discharge of patients: role of nominated person

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.
Status: prospective

In section 25 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (restrictions on discharge by nearest relative)—
(a) in the heading, for “nearest relative” substitute “nominated person”;
(b) in subsection (1)—
(i) in the words before paragraph (a), for “nearest relative” substitute “nominated person”;
(ii) in paragraphs (a) and (b), for “relative” substitute “nominated person”;
(iii) in paragraph (b) for “six months” substitute “three months”;
(c) in subsection (2), for “nearest relative” substitute “nominated person”;

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/33/section/26 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/mental-health-act-2025/section-26
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.