According to the Mental Health Act Commission's Eighth Biennial Report (which covers the period 1997-99) there were 150 Commissioners, 25 of whom were psychiatrists. In 2004 the Commission was restructured so that the number of Commissioners was reduced from 180 to 100. The duties of the Commissioners were altered and this was reflected in the new job descriptions for the Local Commissioners and the Area Commissioners.

We are two of only three psychiatrists who were reappointed at the time of this reconfiguration. Chris Heginbotham, the Chief Executive of the Mental Health Act Commission, has told us of his disappointment that so few psychiatrists applied. This dearth of psychiatrists is a great pity as the Commission's role is to safeguard the interests of all people detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 and to keep under review the exercise of the powers and duties contained in this Act.

We do not know why so few psychiatrists applied for the posts of Mental Health Act Commissioners. It may be that doctors employed full time on the new consultant contract find this external commitment difficult to negotiate with their trusts. However, we would strongly recommend that Members of the College apply to become members of the Commission.