'Being sectioned' under the Mental Health Act is the term used when a person is taken into hospital for care without his or her consent; a compulsory admission.

Most people who need hospital care for mental ill health go into hospital voluntarily. Occasionally, however, some people become so seriously ill that they do not realise that they need help. If a person's illness means they are at risk of harming themselves or other people, the Mental Health Act grant certain health and social care professionals the power to admit that person to hospital without his or her consent.

The law is very clear about the protection of patients' rights if they are kept in hospital under a Mental Health Act 'section' and patients who are detained are entitled to appeal against their detention. The length of a compulsory detention can differ and longer stays are regularly reviewed. Reviews and appeals are carried out by a 'Managers' Panel.' Members of the Managers' Panel do not manage the hospital or any of our services. They are independent individuals and their role is to ensure that patients are detained only as the Mental Health Act allow. Panel members meet to review sections and appeals and can, if they agree it is appropriate, discharge a patient from a section.

Our members were recently invited to register their interest in volunteering to become a member of a Managers' Panel. Panel members come from a diverse range of backgrounds and receive appropriate training. Several of our members have already expressed an interest and will be meeting with out Mental Health Act Service Manager, Alison Wheelton, to discuss what is involved in more detail.

Alison said:

"We really value the involvement of our members on the Managers Panels. They provide another perspective to what can be a very complex case. We've been particularly pleased with the response from those members who have experience of our services. These members have the insight and understanding of what the service user, under review, might be feeling or experiencing themselves."