Format/length:	see DATE
HES item:	DETNDATE
National Codes:
Default Codes:

Notes:
The date detention commenced is the date on which the first order was made in this period of detention, even though the section of the Act under which the PATIENT is detained may have changed, the PATIENT may have been transferred to another provider or the PATIENT was detained under the Act after admission to the current provider. All changes in LEGAL STATUS CLASSIFICATION CODE should be recorded, and the continuous period of detention obtained by comparing the START DATE and START DATES for the historical LEGAL STATUS records. (Act refers to the 1983 Mental Health Act).

Where the detention order is held by a hospital other than that where the PATIENT is present at the date of the census, the latter should ensure the information relating to this detention order is obtained from the former hospital. Only the hospital where the PATIENT is treated should submit the data. 

This data element is also known by these names:

Context	Alias
plural	DATE DETENTION COMMENCEDS