In the United Kingdom, a Mental Health Tribunal has legal powers to discharge or uphold detention of patients who have been detained under the Mental Health Act. Detained patients cost a great deal of money for hospitals and tribunal services.

The purpose of the study was to identify whether patients were detained as per mental health legal criteria or not. We also considered the economic impact of these tribunals.

We collected and analyzed data from 300 tribunals held between 2006 and 2011.The most commonly used sections were - Sections 2, 3, 37 and 37/41.

Our analysis showed that:

1. - Majority of patients detained under Section 2 were not discharged.

2. - Very few patients detained under Section 37/41 were discharged.

Blumenthal and Wessley (1994) reported that the total cost of holding Mental Health Review Tribunals was £12,274,380. In Scotland, the total costs for all Tribunal related activity in 2006–07 was £12,784,909.

In the current economic scenario it is worth investigating cost effective alternatives to Tribunals - especially in cases of Section 2 and Section 37/41 - where the data indicates that tribunals do not change the original recommendation.

Viable alternative would include locally conducted Managers Hearings; However it is of paramount importance to ensure patients’ rights and the presence of independent panel members in such hearings.

We propose that more analysis, on a national level would be needed to determine the current cost of Mental Health Tribunals and to consider cost effective alternatives.