Voluntary patients
Admitting voluntary patients
Anyone can seek admission to a hospital for psychiatric treatment.
A person admitting themselves to hospital will be classified as a voluntary patient.
A voluntary patient can only be given treatment if they agree to it. Private hospitals can only treat voluntary patients.
Leaving an institution
A voluntary patient may leave a hospital at any time or can be discharged by the authorised psychiatrist.
However, if staff believe that a voluntary patient who wants to leave meets the criteria for compulsory treatment and detention as an involuntary patient, the patient may be detained under the provisions of involuntary admission.
