Jefferies are specialist Lawyers in Mental Health Law and assist and advise patients or their nearest relatives who have Hospital Managers hearings and Mental Health Review Tribunals.

Civil Detention

Persons can be detained civilly under the Mental Health Act at the Hospital or be subject to various orders under the Mental Health Act whilst in the community. In most cases of compulsory detention Mental Health patients have a right to have their detention reviewed by an independent Mental Health Review Tribunal as do nearest relatives of those patients. The Tribunal is totally independent of the hospital and reviews whether the detention of the patient is lawful or not. It has powers to discharge and/or make recommendations regarding treatment and transfer to other hospitals. Persons detained as patients under such circumstances also have certain rights to have their detention reviewed by the Hospital Managers.

Patients detained pursuant to Criminal Proceedings under the Mental Health Act Again as experts in Mental Health Law and also being criminal lawyers we are in an advantageous position to assist and represent patients detained in hospital in criminal proceedings whether that is for the purpose of the Court obtaining reports as to the mental health of a defendant, transfer from prison to a mental health hospital, made subject of a Hospital Order on conviction or subject to a conditional discharge following an original detention under a Hospital Order made under the Mental Health Act.

Funding of Representation

In all cases where patients are to be represented under a Mental Health Tribunal hearing they are entitled to free legal representation in that Legal Aid is available without any means testing. This practice is able to grant legal aid to patients in such circumstances due to the fact that this practice holds a Legal Services Contract in Mental Health Law. We would be in a position to advise with regard to the funding of advice and assistance to nearest relatives for patients detained under the Mental Health Act.

Miscellaneous Advice and Assistance for Patients and Nearest Relatives of Patients with Mental Health issues

As well as direct representation at Hospital Managers Hearings and Mental Health Tribunal hearings, this practice can also give advice and assistance in relation to many other legal issues facing persons or their nearest relatives who have mental health issues. Again, legal aid may be available in such circumstances and this is dependent upon the financial position of the individual concerned as there is an element of means testing involved. We would be happy to give further advice upon the legal aid position, if necessary.