9.1 During this reporting period there was significant focus on improving timeliness in the hearing of applications. This has involved effort by many, including patients, their counsel, health professionals, the Secretariat and all Tribunal members, and the support of the Ministry. 9.2 Reviews are required to commence within 21 days, or a further 7 days if the Tribunal extends that timeframe. There is no specific timeframe for their conclusion, but the Tribunal endeavours to conclude cases efficiently. 9.3 Factors identified that undermined timeliness included: scheduling difficulties. This results from the need to ensure that the patient, the psychiatrist, another health professional, any other witnesses, a lawyer (if any) and the Tribunal are all available on a particular day; the workload and existing commitments of those involved in the hearing process; the time involved in a patient arranging legal representation, obtaining advice and any second opinion and then preparing for the hearing; statutory holidays, particularly Christmas; and geographic factors. 9.4 In some delay may be sought or consented to by a patient, for example so that he or she can arrange a lawyer or obtain a second opinion, or to prepare more fully. 9.5 Sometimes additional time allows the patient and responsible clinician to resolve issues that gave rise to the application, for example the type and of medication and patient leave, which fall outside of the Tribunal’s jurisdiction. 9.6 There will always be a percentage of hearings that fall outside of the timeframes, for example because a patient is not ready to proceed or an emergency. There is merit in minor legislative change to provide flexibility in such circumstances. 9.7 Currently, over 75% of applications are heard within 28 days (See figure 16, grey line). We are grateful to all involved for their commitment to addressing timeliness. Figure 16: Trend showing number of hearings heard within 28 days.
9.1 During this reporting period there was significant focus on improving timeliness in the hearing of applications. This has involved effort by many, including patients, their counsel, health professionals, the Secretariat and all Tribunal members, and the support of the Ministry. 9.2 Reviews are required to commence within 21 days, or a further 7 days if the Tribunal extends that timeframe. There is no specific timeframe for their conclusion, but the Tribunal endeavours to conclude cases efficiently. 9.3 Factors identified that undermined timeliness included: scheduling difficulties. This results from the need to ensure that the patient, the psychiatrist, another health professional, any other witnesses, a lawyer (if any) and the Tribunal are all available on a particular day; the workload and existing commitments of those involved in the hearing process; the time involved in a patient arranging legal representation, obtaining advice and any second opinion and then preparing for the hearing; statutory holidays, particularly Christmas; and geographic factors. 9.4 In some delay may be sought or consented to by a patient, for example so that he or she can arrange a lawyer or obtain a second opinion, or to prepare more fully. 9.5 Sometimes additional time allows the patient and responsible clinician to resolve issues that gave rise to the application, for example the type and of medication and patient leave, which fall outside of the Tribunal’s jurisdiction. 9.6 There will always be a percentage of hearings that fall outside of the timeframes, for example because a patient is not ready to proceed or an emergency. There is merit in minor legislative change to provide flexibility in such circumstances. 9.7 Currently, over 75% of applications are heard within 28 days (See figure 16, grey line). We are grateful to all involved for their commitment to addressing timeliness. Figure 16: Trend showing number of hearings heard within 28 days.
mhrt-annual-report-2016-17_0.docx