HEARINGS to decide whether a person should have been committed to a psychiatric hospital are costing up to €3,000 each, it has emerged.

And close to one in eight of the 2,096 psychiatric patients who appealed an order for their "involuntary admission" last year was successful and subsequently had to be released from in-patient treatment, the Sunday Tribune has established.

The Mental Health Commission has confirmed that it spent €9.75m last year on what are known as "mental health tribunals".

Figures from the Department of Health reveal that 2,004 people were subject to "involuntary admissions" last year in the country's psychiatric hospitals. A further 1,324 remained in hospital after a psychiatrist signed off on a "renewal order" to continue their treatment.

Of those cases, 1,290 of the involuntary admissions and renewal orders were revoked by a Consultant Psychiatrist before a hearing actually took place. Another 241 people had their orders revoked after having details of their case heard.

Fine Gael TD Dan Neville said: "Prior to this, people could have been in hospital indefinitely, but thankfully the new act has changed that, and everybody must have an evaluation as to their continuing involuntary in-patient treatment. We have no reason not to be supportive for the system and the fact that one in eight people are successful shows how necessary it is. Of course, there would be concerns in relation to the cost of it and perhaps that could be streamlined in some way."

Since November 2006, the Mental Health Commission has been responsible for establishing tribunals for patients admitted to hospital on an involuntary basis. All patients admitted for treatment against their own will have the right to attend their own tribunal to give evidence.

Patients also have the right to be represented legally and it is believed costs to solicitors form most of the near €10m paid out during 2008.

Anybody committed to a psychiatric hospital also has an entitlement to have an independent medical examination carried out by a consultant psychiatrist, another major cost for the taxpayer.

Sitting on each of the tribunals is a legal member – a barrister or solicitor who acts as chairman – a lay person and a consultant psychiatrist.

Witnesses, including family members, spouses and friends, may also be invited to attend and give testimony as to the well-being of the person.

Mental health tribunals also consider proposed transfers to the Central Mental Hospital and proposals related to "psycho-surgery".