If you have been sectioned (detained for treatment in a psychiatric hospital), any mental health aftercare you may need when you leave hospital should be provided free of charge.

This aftercare is given to try to prevent your mental health condition from getting worse and to avoid needing to be re-admitted to hospital.

Who is eligible for mental health aftercare?

You have a right to mental health aftercare when you have been:

- compulsorily detained in hospital under section 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983
- sentenced by a criminal court to detention in a psychiatric hospital
- transferred to psychiatric hospital from prison

How to get mental health aftercare

If you're eligible for aftercare, your needs will be assessed before you're discharged from hospital.

You will receive a care plan that sets out the services you will receive.

What does aftercare include?

Aftercare can include almost anything that helps you live in the community, such as:

- help with specialised accommodation
- social care support
- day centre facilities
- recreational activities

The care plan may make arrangements for housing needs, particularly if you are likely to be homeless when you're discharged from hospital or can't return home for some reason.

The accommodation provided may be in supported housing, such as a hostel.

If you need services from a wide range of providers, you should be assessed under the Care Programme Approach and a named person should act as your care co-ordinator.

Ending aftercare

Aftercare may be withdrawn if social services or the relevant healthcare organisation believe you no longer need it. However, the organisations must reassess your needs before reaching that conclusion. They also must provide reasons for their decision.

If you have significant mental health problems, you may be able to argue that you're at risk of needing re-admission to hospital. In such a case, your aftercare will continue.

Even if you're no longer eligible for aftercare, that doesn't necessarily mean it will be withdrawn. A financial assessment will be carried out to decide whether you have to contribute to the costs.

How to complain about mental health aftercare

You or your carer may believe you're being incorrectly charged for aftercare services that should be provided free.

This is a complex area, and it's best to get legal advice if you think it may apply to you or the person you're looking after:

Citizens Advice gives free legal advice – call the helpline on 03444 111 444 or find your nearest Citizens Advice
Age UK may be able to help if you're an older person or caring for an older person – call the helpline on 0800 169 6565
check if you can get free legal aid at GOV.UK

The symptoms of BPSD can include: - increased agitation - aggression (shouting or screaming, verbal abuse, and sometimes physical abuse) - delusions (unusual beliefs not based on reality) - hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that do not exist).

A DNACPR form can be written for a short period – for example, if you have been admitted to hospital. Or it can be written with no end date – for example, if you have a long-term condition that has damaged your heart, lungs or other organs – only being reviewed if your situation changes.

When the DNACPR decision is made you should be told when it will be reviewed, and this is usually recorded on the form. It is recommended that a DNACPR is reviewed each time your situation changes – for example, when you leave hospital. If a DNACPR form is placed on your medical records while in hospital, this will be included in your discharge summary and shared with your GP.

DNACPR stands for do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation. DNACPR is sometimes called DNAR (do not attempt resuscitation) or DNR (do not resuscitate) but they all refer to the same thing.

DNACPR means if your heart or breathing stops your healthcare team will not try to restart it.

A DNACPR decision is made by you and/or your doctor or healthcare team. This is explained in more detail in the following section "When is a DNACPR decision made and a form written and who is involved?".

A DNACPR decision is usually recorded on a special form. Different doctors or hospitals might use different forms, but they all serve the same purpose. Some examples are a DNACPR form, a treatment escalation plan, or a recommended summary plan for emergency care and treatment (ReSPECT) process.

All these forms are easily recognised by doctors, nurses and healthcare workers, so they know what to do in an emergency.

This form is kept in your medical records. It may also be printed and kept with you if you are at home or in a care home.

You and the people important to you should know that a DNACPR form has been put in your medical records.

The form says that if your heart or breathing stop, CPR should not be tried. This means medical staff will not try to restart your heart or breathing.

Most people forget things from time to time, but see a GP if you keep having problems with your memory. It could be caused by something that can be treated.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if memory problems are affecting your day-to-day life. It's probably nothing serious, but it's best to get checked because any treatment you need may work better if it's started early.

Important: Concern for a relative
If you're worried about an older relative who's becoming increasingly forgetful, speak to a GP about whether it could be a sign of dementia.

What happens at your appointment
If you're having problems with your memory, a GP will ask you some questions to try to find the cause.

It might be useful to bring someone else with you who can help describe the problems you're having.

The GP may refer you to a memory specialist for an in-depth assessment. Further tests, such as scans, may also sometimes be needed.

Any treatment that's recommended will depend on the cause of your memory problems.

Causes of memory loss
Memory loss can just be a natural part of getting older.

Sometimes it may be caused by something common and treatable like stress, anxiety or depression, or sleeping problems (insomnia).

Occasionally, memory loss can be a sign of something more serious, such as dementia.

Do not try to self-diagnose the cause of your memory loss – always see a GP.