Absolutely re: the S.136 - I'm rather happy with the checks and balances that we have, even if it does mean having to deal with social workers *grin*. I wasn't too sure that my patient *did* need admitting (that's a psych Dr.'s job), I would guess that it was needed. *But* - what was needed was him to be assessed in a place of safety by people experienced in his problems. For this particular patient the A&E department wasn't a place of safety, it would have had him kicking off with all that entails. I see it more as taking an MI to the cath lab rather than A&E.