The Mental Health Review Board was created under section 21 of the Mental Health Act 1986. The Board commenced operation in 1987 and had the following functions:

To hear appeals from involuntary and security patients, people on community treatment orders and restricted community treatment orders who wish to be discharged

To review all involuntary and security patients within eight weeks of admission to determine if their involuntary or security patient status should continue

To review all involuntary and security patients at least every twelve months to decide if their involuntary or security status should continue

To review every decision to extend a community treatment order or a restricted community treatment order

To hear appeals against refusals to grant leave to security patients; and

To hear appeals against transfer orders.