Lunacy Act, 1890

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Visits to pauper lunatics not in institution for lunatics.

202.—(1) Every pauper lunatic not in an institution for lunatics shall once in every quarter of a year (reckoning the several quarters as ending on the thirty-first of March, the thirtieth of June, the thirtieth of September, and the thirty-first of December) be visited, if not resident in a workhouse, by the medical officer of the union, or district in which the lunatic is resident, and, if resident in a workhouse, by the medical officer of the workhouse.

(2) The guardians of every union shall from time to time furnish to every medical officer of the union forms for the prescribed returns relating to pauper lunatics not in an institution for lunatics.

(3) Where a pauper lunatic has, by order of the visiting committee, been delivered over to the custody of a relative or friend to whom an allowance is made for the maintenance of the lunatic, the medical officer of the union or district in which the lunatic resides shall, within three days after each quarterly visit, send to the visiting committee a report stating whether in his opinion the lunatic is properly taken care of, and may properly remain out of an asylum.

(4) Each medical officer shall be paid two shillings and sixpence for each quarterly visit to a pauper not in a workhouse, and, in addition, two shillings and sixpence for every report sent to a visiting committee under this section, and those sums shall be paid by the same persons and be charged to the same account as the relief of the pauper.

(5) Nothing in this section shall relieve any medical officer from any obligation under this Act to give notice to a relieving officer or overseer when it appears to such medical officer that a pauper lunatic ought to be sent to an asylum.