Our reviewers make sure that the powers of the Mental Health Act are used properly. Find out more about what a reviewer can do for you.
Mental Health Act reviewers come from a variety of professional backgrounds, from doctors to lawyers, and are independent of the service providing care.
They can visit patients detained in hospital and meet with them in private to find out about their experiences.
Where requested, they can also meet patients who are on a community treatment order.
Reviewers can…
- Listen to your issues
- Raise problems with ward managers
- Help patients write letters or complain
- Check paperwork
- Publish reports on wards
Reviewers can't…
- Discharge patients
- Arrange patient transfers
- Offer medical advice
- Give legal advice
- Arrange leave for patients
Acting Together visits
Some visits are carried out by a reviewer and a person who uses mental health services. These are known as Acting Together visits. Find out more in Involving people who use services.
Find out more
Find out more about our mental health and mental capacity work
Find out more about our inspections of specialist mental health services
Find out more about the Mental Health Act
Find out more about the Mental Capacity Act's deprivation of liberty safeguards
See our recent mental health and mental capacity publications