Mental Health Review Tribunals

The Mental Health Review Tribunal is a part of the Court system and is responsible for hearing patient appeals against detention.

Tribunal panel members consist of a legal member, a medical member, and a lay member. All have experience considered suitable by the Lord Chancellor.

Patients detained under Section 2, 3, 7 [Guardianship] and 17 [Supervised Community Treatment] have the right of appeal to a Tribunal as do patients detained under hospital orders. Appeals can be made by the patient or their nearest relative. Information on how this can be done may be obtained from the Hospital Managers, or from staff on the hospital ward where the patient is detained.

All detained patients who appeal to the Tribunal are entitled to free legal representation. The Law Society issues a list of solicitors and their employees who are competent to represent patients at a Mental Health Review Tribunal.