Hospital Doctor considers the need to use 'holding power' to allow for patient's own GP/Medical Practitioner to consider medical recommendation under Part II of the Mental Health Order
A doctor on the staff of the hospital considers or is asked to consider, whether or not a patient ought to be detained in that hospital to allow, within 48 hours only, for the person's own GP or another practitioner to consider making a medical recommendation followed if necessary by an application for detention in hospital for assessment.
Article 4 (2) states that an application for assessment may be made in respect of a patient on the grounds that –
(a) He is suffering from mental disorder of a nature or degree which warrants his detention in a hospital for assessment (or for assessment followed by medical treatment); and
(b) Failure to so detain him would create a substantial likelihood of serious physical harm to himself or to other persons.