Initial Approved Clinician approval

Are you seeking initial Approved Clinician approval?

Effect and Powers of Approved Clinician Approval:

Registered Medical Practitioners can also act as a Doctor certified as having special experience in the diagnosis or treatment of mental disorder under Section 12(2) Mental Health Act 1983 within England and Wales.

Approved Clinician status granted in Wales cannot be used in England.  If you wish to use AC powers in England, you must separately apply for this and obtain England AC approval.

Can act as a Responsible Clinician within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1983 within Wales, when allocated by a detaining authority (ie employer).

Powers of the Responsible Clinician:

• Clinical lead for a patient liable to be detained or on a CTO or guardianship;
• Granting section 17 leave;
• Reviewing need for detention, CTO or guardianship;
• Discharging from detention, CTO or guardianship;
• Deciding whether to bar Nearest Relative discharge from detention or CTO;
• Reviewing and renewing detention, extending CTO or guardianship;
• Recommending transfer to guardianship;
• Making a Community Treatment Order (with an AMHP);
• Recalling from CTO;
• Revoking CTO (with AMHP);
• Reporting to Minister of Justice on restricted patients.

Powers of an Approved Clinician (when not the Responsible Clinician):

• The Approved Clinician (or doctor) in charge of the treatment of an informal patient is the one with the power to prevent a patient from leaving hospital under section 5 (and 5(2));
• May be authorised under s24 by the Nearest Relative to visit and examine a patient in private;
• May be authorised by a Tribunal to visit and examine a patient in private to provide a report;
• May be authorised by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales to visit and examine a patient in private;
• May provide reports to Court in some Part III MHA 1983 cases.

Apply for Approved Clinician Approval