Your rights in hospital
What are my rights if I am in hospital?
If you are detained, you still have rights: to information, to appeal, to an advocate, and to be treated with dignity and respect for who you are.
Being checked by an independent advocate before it goes live.
The short version
- The hospital must tell you your rights, in a way you understand, and give them to you in writing.
- You can appeal against your detention to the Mental Health Tribunal. Legal help for the tribunal is free.
- You can ask the hospital managers to review your detention.
- Your faith, diet, language and culture should be respected. You can ask for help with prayer, food and hair and skin care.
What you can do
- Ask for a solicitor who specialises in mental health law.
- Ask for an independent mental health advocate.
- Write down what matters to you, so staff know.
- Make a complaint if something is wrong.
This is general information about the law in England. It is not advice about your own situation. For that, speak to an independent mental health advocate or a solicitor who specialises in mental health law.
