Statistics - In-patients detained in hospitals under the Mental Health Act 1983, UK

Main Category: Mental Health
Article Date: 19 Dec 2004 - 15:00 PDT


This bulletin is an annual publication which summarises information about people detained under the 1983 Mental Health Act in NHS facilities, including high security psychiatric hospitals, and independent hospitals. It includes figures for the period 1993-94 to 2003-04.

Key facts

-- The number of detentions under the Act fell slightly to 45,700 in 2003-04 from 46,500 in 2002-03. Formal admissions fell to 26,200 in 2003-04 from 26,400 in 2002-03, having reached a peak of 26,900 in 1998-99

-- 95% of all formal admissions in 2003-04 were to NHS hospitals. 89% of all formal admissions were NHS under Part II of the Act

-- In 2003-04 there were 18,200 detentions after informal admission to hospital. This compares with 19,000 in 2002-03

-- The number of Place of Safety Orders involving assessment in hospital increased by 8% from 4,100 in 2002-03 to 4,400 in 2003-04. This followed a 20% rise in 2002-03 and a 16% rise in 2001-02

-- Court and prison disposals were up 7% in 2003-04 compared to 2002-03 but have fallen by over a quarter since 1993-94

-- The rate of detentions in NHS hospitals under the Act (including detentions after admission) in 2003-04 in England was 88 per 100,000 population

-- At 31 March 2004, there were 14,000 patients detained in hospital, of which 11,700 were in NHS facilities and 2,300 in independent hospitals

Download bulletin in Portable Document Format (385Kb 22pp)

Download the tables in Excel format (120Kb)

Any questions concerning the data contained in this publication should be addressed to:
Paul Thatti
Mental Health Statistics
Shadow Health & Social Care Information Centre
Department of Health
Room 430B Skipton House
80 London Road
London SE1 6LH
Tel: 020 7972 5546
ISBN 1 84182 915 3

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