Under Section 117, of the Mental Health Act 1983, a person who has been subject to certain conditions, under other sections of the Act have a right to receive free aftercare, rather than means-tested social care provisions.
A person might qualify for 117 aftercare if they were detained:
- for treatment under section 3
- under a hospital order under section 37
- following transfer from prison under section 47 or 48
- under a hospital direction under section 45A
You also have the right to section 117 aftercare if you:
- have been discharged onto a Community Treatment Order (CTO) for the entire period of your CTO
- are on section 17 leave of absence from your detention under section 3, or
- are a restricted patient on a conditional discharge
You have the right to section 117 aftercare after you leave hospital whether you:
- leave hospital immediately, or
- stay on as a voluntary patient