The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety today published statistics on activity within the mental Health and learning disability programmes of care (POC) in hospitals within Northern Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2015.
The statistical bulletin presents information on inpatient and day case activity, outpatient activity, and compulsory admissions under the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986.
Key points
Mental Health
- Over the last five years, the total number of admissions to hospital under the mental health POC has decreased by 13.3% (745), from 5,620 in 2010/11 to 4,875 in 2014/15 (Figure 1, Table 1.1).
- Since 2010/11, the total number of inpatient admissions under the mental health POC has decreased by 12.1% (637), from 5,268 to 4,631 in 2014/15, whilst the number of admissions for day case treatment has decreased by almost a third (30.7%), from 352 to 244 in the same period (Figure 1, Table 1.1).
- Across health and social care (HSC) trusts, the highest average number of available beds within the mental health POC was reported in the Belfast HSC trust (194.1, 33.1%) whilst the Southern HSC trust reported the lowest (78.0, 13.3%) (Figure 10, Table 1.2 – 1.3).
- Between 2010/11 and 2014/15, the average length of stay within the mental health POC in hospitals decreased by 8.4 days, from 50.8 days to 42.4 days (Figure 13, Table 1.1).
- During 2014/15, there were 13,405 consultant-led outpatient attendances in the Belfast HSC Trust for the mental health specialties. Of these, 1,002 (7.5%) were new and 12,403 (92.5%) were review attendances (Figure 15, Table 1.4).
Learning Disability
- The number of admissions to hospital under the learning disability POC has decreased year on year from 503 in 2010/11 to 261 in 2014/15, a reduction of 48.1% (242) (Figure 20, Table 2.1).
- All 261 admissions to hospital under the learning disability POC in 2014/15 were inpatient admissions (Figures 20 – 21, Table 2.1).
- Of the 168.8 average available beds within the learning disability POC in 2014/15, the majority (139.1, 82.4%) were available in the Belfast HSC trust, with 19.5 (11.6%) in the Western HSC trust and 10.1 (6.0%) in the Southern HSC trust (Table 2.2).
- Across hospitals, Muckamore Abbey (312.4 days) reported the highest average length of stay, compared with an average of 127.5 days in Bluestone hospital, 66.2 days in Lakeview and 30.1 days in Longstone hospital (Table 2.3).
- In 2014/15, there were 6,381 consultant-led outpatient attendances within the learning disability POC in Northern Ireland. Of these, 497 (7.8%) were new and 5,884 (92.1%) were review attendances (Figure 25, Table 2.4).
Mental health and learning disability statistics
Notes to editors:
1. The information detailed in this publication is collected from a series of statistical returns (listed below) provided by HSC trusts, hospitals:
- KH03a – Summary of available bed days, occupied bed days, inpatients and day cases
- QOAR – Quarterly outpatient activity return; summary of the number of new and review attendances at a consultant led outpatient services. It also contains the number of patients who did not attend (DNA), could not attend (CNA), the number of outpatient appointments that have been cancelled by the hospital and private patient attendances
- KH15 – Admissions under the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986
- MILD Census – Inpatients resident in mental health / learning disability hospitals on 17 February each year
2. All information has been validated with HSC trusts, and incorporates all returns and amendments received up to 27 August 2015.
3. Further information on Mental Health & Learning Disability Statistics is available from Hospital Information Branch
4. Media queries to DHSSPS Press Office on 02890 520074, or out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned. Follow us on Twitter @healthdpt