Comment: | The Mental Health Act Commission was established in 1983 and its members (Commissioners), include laypersons, lawyers, doctors, nurses, social workers, psychologists and other specialists. Its functions are to:
+ keep under review the operation of the Mental Health Act 1983 in respect of patients liable to be detained under the Act;
+ visit and interview, in private, patients detained under the Act in Hospitals;
+ investigate complaints which fall within the Commission's remit;
+ review decisions to withold the mail of patients detained in the High Security Hospitals;
+ appoint medical practitioners and others to give second opinions in cases where this is required by the Act;
+ publish and lay before Parliament a report every two years;
+ monitor the implementation of the Code of Practice and propose amendments to ministers.
In Addition, the Commission is encouraged by the Secretary of State to advise on policy matters that fall within the Commission's remit. |
