Mental Health Act Commission

The Mental Health Act Commission was established in 1983 and consists of some 170 members (Commissioners), including 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.
• To visit and interview, in private, patients detained under the Act in hospitals and mental nursing homes.
• To investigate complaints which fall within the Commission's remit.
• To review decisions to withhold the mail of patients detained in the High Security Hospitals.
• To appoint medical practitioners and others to give second opinions in cases where this is required by the Act.
• To publish and lay before Parliament a report every 2 years.
• To 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.

The Richard Miller Unit at The David Lewis Centre is registered as a Mental Hospital in the private & voluntary sector under the Healthcare Commission and this Unit operates within the remit and according to the principles of the Mental Health Act Commission.

Link to Mental Health Commission website: www.mhac.trent.nhs.uk