Independent Consultant Psychiatrists

What is the role of the Independent Consultant Psychiatrist?

The role of the independent consultant psychiatrist is to provide a report on the mental health of patients who are involuntarily detained.

The independent consultant psychiatrist will arrange to examine the patient, interview their treating consultant and review their hospital records. They will then provide a report on the patient’s mental health to the tribunal and the patient’s legal representative.   

Under section 17 of the 2001 Act the MHC maintains a panel of consultant psychiatrists to carry out independent medical examinations. This section How panels 1 to 4 are appointed describes how this panel is appointed. To be on a panel, consultants must be on the Division of Psychiatry of the Register of Medical Specialists of the Medical Council of Ireland. There were 144 active independent consultant psychiatrists on the panel on 1 January 2024

For a list of current members of the panel click on the link Panel of Independent Consultant Psychiatrists 

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