Dr. Lorcan Martin:

Yes. Under the Act, people must be seen and examined by a consultant psychiatrist within 24 hours. Some people are sent in on involuntary forms and the consultant psychiatrist may decide they do not meet the criteria for admission. Such people are free to stay as a voluntary patient or can be discharged home. That is an important point. Not everyone who gets sent in through involuntary forms is detained. That is the first bit.

Assuming the admission order is completed, the person remains and the safeguards are put in place. That person would be reviewed frequently by a consultant psychiatrist.