Article 127 Voluntary use of services

Nothing in this Order shall be construed as preventing a patient who requires treatment for mental disorder from being admitted to any hospital or private hospital for that treatment in pursuance of arrangements made in that behalf and without an application, order or direction rendering him liable to be detained under this Order, or from remaining in any hospital or private hospital in pursuance of such arrangements after he has ceased to be so liable to be detained.

Where a minor who has attained the age of 16 years is capable of expressing his own wishes, any such arrangements as are mentioned in paragraph (1) may be made, carried out and determinedF1 even though there are one or more persons who have parental responsibility for him (within the meaning of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.