{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/mental-health-northern-ireland-order-1986/article-8",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/mental-health-northern-ireland-order-1986/article-8.json",
  "legislation": "nisi/1986/595",
  "legislation_title": "The Mental Health (Northern Ireland) Order 1986",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/mental-health-northern-ireland-order-1986",
  "path": "article/8",
  "kind": "article",
  "number": "8",
  "heading": "Effect of application for assessment",
  "text": "(1) An application for assessment duly completed in accordance with this Part shall be sufficient authority for—\n(a) the applicant or a person authorised by the applicant; or\n(b) the responsible authority, if the applicant so requests in a case of difficulty,\nto take the patient and convey him to the hospital specified in the application at any time within the period of—\n(i) two days beginning with the date on which the medical recommendation was signed; or\n(ii) such longer period (not exceeding 14 days) as a medical practitioner appointed for the purposes of this Part by RQIA may certify in the prescribed form to be necessary in exceptional circumstances.\n(2) Where a patient is admitted within that period to the hospital specified in any such application, or, being within a hospital, is treated by virtue of Article 7 as if he had been so admitted,—\n(a) the application shall be sufficient authority for the responsible authority to detain the patient in the hospital in accordance with Article 9; and\n(b) the responsible authority shall immediately forward to RQIA a copy of the application for assessment and of the medical recommendation on which it is founded.\n(3) Where a patient who is subject under this Order to the guardianship of a person other than ... an authorised HSC trust is admitted to hospital for assessment, it shall be the duty of the responsible authority to inform the guardian of the patient to that effect as soon as may be practicable.",
  "extent": "N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "1994 NI 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in Order substituted (1.4.2009) by Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 (c. 1), ss. 32, 34(3), Sch. 6 para. 8(1) (subject to Sch. 6 para. 8(2)-(4)); S.R. 2009/114, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in art. 8(3) omitted (1.4.2022) by virtue of Health and Social Care Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 3), s. 8(1)(b), Sch. 1 para. 69; S.R. 2022/102, art. 2(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in Order substituted (1.4.2009) by Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 (c. 1), ss. 32, 34(3), Sch. 6 para. 1(1)(d) (with Sch. 6 para. 1(3)); S.R. 2009/114, art. 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "Art. 8 applied (31.3.2013) by Mental Health (Private Hospitals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (S.R. 2012/403), regs. 1, 3(3)(e), 4"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "Art. 8 applied (31.3.2013) by Mental Health (Private Hospitals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2013 (S.R. 2013/22), regs. 1, 3(3)(e), 4"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C3",
      "text": "Pt. II expiry of earlier affecting provision 2020 c. 7, Sch. 10 paras. 3-13 (25.3.2022) by Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7), s. 89 (with s. 90)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [
    {
      "type": "repealed",
      "affecting": "nia/2016/18",
      "affecting_title": "Mental Capacity Act (Northern Ireland) 2016"
    }
  ],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/1986/595/article/8",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T04:48:38.738443+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}