Attendance of Family and Friends
The Board encourages relatives and carers or others with relevant information to attend a review. Relatives, friends or carers ('significant others') may be present for the whole or part of the review at the discretion of the Board, and taking into account the patient's wishes.
In some instances, where the patient does not wish to have significant others present, the Board may request such persons to attend part of the review, provide information, be available for any questions, and then leave.
As the Board itself is not routinely provided with information on significant others, the Board requests in its letter to psychiatrists and responsible practitioners that these persons be informed of the review.

Representation/Advice
The Board encourages each involuntary patient to be represented and to that end informs each involuntary patient scheduled for a review by letter and pamphlet of their right to have legal representation or the support of an Official Visitor at their review. An involuntary patient may be represented at a review by a legal practitioner or, with leave of the Board, any other person.