VPRS 18457 Leave of Absence Register for Voluntary Patients, Mental Hospital

This register records information about Voluntary patients from Mont Park Mental Hospital (VA 2846), who were allowed Leave of Absence during the period covered by the registers. Voluntary boarders (V) were those who entered the hospital at their own request or, if under the age of 16 at the request of a parent or guardian and on the opinion of a medical practitioner.The register entries contain the following information: name of patient, whether male or female, date of admission, period of leave allowed, name, relationship and address of the guardian, and the date of return or discharge. In many instances the patient was on their own parole rather than in the care of a guardian. They were domiciled at their own place of residence or in some other situation. In some instances the patient died while on leave and so was not returned or discharged. It was often the case that patients were on leave at hospitals, nursing homes, special accommodation homes or rehabilitation centres.Pursuant to Section 87 of the Mental Health Act 1959 (No. 6605), the superintendent of any institution could permit any patient to be absent therefrom upon trial leave or upon parole for such period not exceeding seven days or with the consent of the chief medical officer for such longer period as was thought fit and could, from time to time without the return of such patient, renew such leave or parole. The chief medical officer could of his own authority permit any patient to be absent from any institution upon trial leave or upon parole for such period as he thinks fit.Pursuant to Section 88 of the same Act, the secretary of each institution shall cause to be kept separate records in the prescribed form of every patient allowed by the superintendent to be absent on trial leave or on parole for a period of not more than seven days and of every person allowed on trial leave or on parole for a period of more than seven days.In relation to Leave of Absence, Section 41 (11) of the same Act states that "the superintendent of any institution may permit a voluntary patient to have leave of absence from such institution for any period not exceeding three months and during or at the expiration of any such leave may readmit such patients without receiving any further request for admission".