Publication of ‘Statistics on Community Care for Adults in NI 2015 – 2016’

The Department of Health has today published the ‘Statistics on Community Care for Adults in NI 2015 – 2016’ statistical bulletin.

The publication reports on activity data analysed by HSC Trust. It also includes trend analysis over the past five years. 

Key Facts and Figures:

Contacts with HSC Trusts

• between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016, 29,935 persons in the Elderly Care, Learning Disability and Physical & Sensory Disability POC’s were in contact with HSC Trusts
• over a third of the 29,935 contacts with HSC Trusts were by persons in the Elderly Care POC (36%), a third were by persons in the Physical & Sensory Disability (33%) POC and almost a third were by persons in the Learning Disability (31%) POC
• of those persons in contact with HSC Trusts whose age was known (29,931), 11,833 (40%) were aged 65 and over

Care Packages in Effect

• at 30 June 2016, 12,368 residential and nursing home care packages were in effect, an increase of 1% since 30 June 2015 
• of the 12,368 care packages in effect, over two thirds (70%) were nursing home care packages and under one third (30%) were residential care packages 
• over four fifths (81%) of care packages were in effect in the Elderly Care POC
• the vast majority (90%) of residential and nursing home care packages were provided by the private sector. The voluntary and statutory sectors provided much smaller proportions of residential and nursing home care packages (6% and 4% respectively)

Meals on Wheels Services

• at 31 March 2016, 2,121 persons were in receipt of meals on wheels services. This was 679 (24%) less than the number in receipt at the end of the previous year and 1,148 (35%) less than the number in receipt four years ago
• over nine in ten (92%) persons receiving a meals on wheels service were aged 65 and over. This comprised of 15% aged 65 - 74, 34% aged 75 - 84 and 43% aged 85 and over

Residential & Nursing Accommodation

• at 30 June 2016, there were 5,180 residential places available. This was a very small (<1%) decrease from the number of residential places available at 30 June 2015 (5,212) and a decrease of 6% since 30 June 2012 (5,491)
• of the 5,180 residential places available, almost three in five (58%) were in independent residential homes while just over one in five were in statutory residential homes and dual registered nursing homes (22% and 21%) respectively
• at 30 June 2016, there were 10,692 available nursing care beds. This was a very small (1%) decrease from the number of nursing care beds available at 30 June 2015 (10,854) and a decrease of 2% since 30 June 2012 (10,876)
• of the 10,692 nursing care beds available almost all (99.8%) were in the independent sector, 45% of which were in dual registered homes, and only a small proportion (0.2%) were in the statutory sector

Day Care Registrations

• at 31 March 2016, 7,390 persons were registered at statutory day care facilities. This was 120 (2%) less than the number registered at the end of the previous year and 482 (6%) less than the number registered four years ago
• of those persons registered at statutory day care facilities whose age was known (6,596), over three fifths (61%) were aged under 65 and almost two fifths (39%) were aged 65 and over
• of those persons registered at statutory day care facilities whose POC was known (7,276), almost half (45%) had a learning disability while a small proportion (3%) had no material disablement

Notes to editors: 

1. This information was collated by Community Information Branch within the DoH.

2. This bulletin is published on an annual basis.

3. Statistics detailed within the bulletin include contacts with HSC Trusts, residential and nursing care packages in effect, meals on wheels, residential and nursing accommodation and day care registrations.

Analyses are presented by HSC Trust.

4. Figures incorporate all returns and amendments received from HSC Trusts up to 18 July 2016.

5. This publication is available online.

6. Further information is available from:

Tel: (028) 9052 8134

E-mail: cib@dhsspsni.gov.uk

7. Media queries about this press release please contact the DoH Press Office on 028 9052 0567. For out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07623 974383 and your call will be returned. Follow us on Twitter @healthdpt

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