Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatients (2015/16)

The Department of Health today published statistics on inpatients and compulsory admissions in mental health and learning disability hospitals in the north of Ireland for the year ending 31 March 2016.

KEY POINTS

Mental Health

Compulsory Admissions

• over the last five years, the number of compulsory admissions to mental health hospitals under the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986 increased by 78 (7.9%), from 992 in 2011/12 to 1,070 in 2015/16 (Table 1.4)
• during 2015/16, almost half (487, 45.5%) of compulsory admissions involved patients aged between18 – 44 years of age (Table 1.5)

Mental Illness and Learning Disability Census

• on 17 February 2016, 651 patients were being treated as inpatients in mental health hospitals in the north of Ireland. Over three quarters (76.2%, 496) of these patients had been resident in the hospital for less than six months, whilst 21 (3.2%) patients had been resident for 10 years or more (Table 1.2)
• between 2012 and 2016, the number of patients being treated as inpatients in mental health hospitals decreased by 242 (27.1%), from 893 to 651 (Table 1.1)
• over half (54.7%, 356), of the 651 occupied beds in mental health hospitals were acute beds at 17 February 2016 (Table 1.3)

Learning Disability

Compulsory Admissions

• between 2011/12 and 2015/16, the number of compulsory admissions to learning disability hospitals under the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986 increased by 10 (28.6%), from 35 to 45 (Table 2.4)
• during 2015/16, over two fifths (20, 44.4%) of compulsory admissions involved patients aged between18 – 44 years of age (Table 2.5)

Mental Illness and Learning Disability Census

• on 17 February 2016, 125 patients were being treated as inpatients in learning disability hospitals in the north of Ireland. Almost a quarter (23.2%, 29) of these patients had been resident in the hospital for less than six months, whilst 27 (21.6%) had been resident for 10 years or more (Table 2.2)
• between 2012 and 2016, the number of patients being treated as inpatients in learning disability hospitals decreased by 171 (57.8%), from 296 to 125 (Table 2.1)
• almost a third (32.8%, 41), of the 125 occupied beds in learning disability hospitals were assessment and treatment beds at 17 February 2016 (Table 2.3)

The information release is published on the Departmental website

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:

• KH15 & KH15b –  Admissions under the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986
• MILD Census – Inpatients resident in Mental Health / Learning Disability Hospitals on 17th February each year

2. Historically this statistical information, including detailed commentary, was published as the ‘Hospital Statistics: Mental Health and Learning Disability’ publication. However, following a National Statistics Consultation in October 2015, it was agreed to discontinue this publication and replace it with a set of downloadable EXCEL data tables (no commentary).

3. The downloadable EXCEL tables present information on (i) compulsory admissions under the 1986 Mental Health (NI) Order and (ii) a census of mental illness and learning and learning disability inpatients resident in hospital on 17 February.

4. Information on inpatient, day case and consultant-led outpatient activity for the mental health and learning disability specialties, previously detailed in the ‘Hospital Statistics: Mental Health and Learning Disability’ publication, has already been published for 2015/16 in:

• Hospital Statistics: Inpatient and Day Case Activity Statistics (2015/16)
• Hospital Statistics: Outpatient Activity Statistics (2015/16)

5. All information has been validated with Health & Social Care Trusts, and incorporates all returns and amendments received up to 26 August 2016

Further information on Mental Health & Learning Disability Statistics is available from:

Hospital Information Branch
Department of Health
Annexe 2, Castle Buildings
Stormont, BT4 3SQ

Fax:               028 90 523288

Email:             hib.questions@health-ni.gov.uk

6. Media queries to DoH Information Office on 02890 520 579, or out of hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned. Follow us on Twitter @healthdpt

Share this page