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National Statistics
Publication, Part of

Inpatients Formally Detained in Hospitals Under the Mental Health Act 1983 and Patients Subject to Supervised Community Treatment - England, 2010-2011, Annual figures

Official statistics, National statistics
Publication Date:
Geographic Coverage:
England
Geographical Granularity:
Country, Strategic Health Authorities, NHS Trusts, Primary Care Organisations, Care Trusts, Mental Health Trusts, Government Office Regions, Independent Sector Health Care Providers, Regions
Date Range:
01 Apr 2010 to 31 Mar 2011

Summary

This bulletin summarises information about uses of the Mental Health Act 1983 for 2010/11, based on the KP90 collection. It includes information from high security psychiatric hospitals as well as from other NHS service providers and independent hospitals.

The latest figures for 2010/11 suggest that the number of people subject to restrictions under the Mental Health Act continues to rise. Whilst the number of formal admissions for treatment and new Community Treatment Orders (CTOs) has decreased since the previous reporting period, the overall number of people remaining in detention or subject to a CTO is higher than before.

The number of uses of Place of Safety Orders has also increased. The figures also show major changes in the number of formal detentions, uses of Place of Safety Orders and CTOs.

Important: Please note that we were advised of some incorrectly submitted figures immediately prior to publication. The total number of CTOs administered by Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (RP7) should have been 31 rather than 16 (an increase of 14 Section 3 to SCT changes and 1 Section 37 to SCT change). Whilst National totals are not significantly changed, this does affect Figures 5 and 7, and Table 4, of the report; Tables 6a and 9 of the reference data tables; and relevant cells in the machine readable dataset.

Highlights

Uses of the Mental Health Act 1983

  • Although the total number of formal admissions to hospital and the number of new Community Treatment Orders (CTOs) decreased between 2010/11 and 2009/10, the overall number of people subject to the Mental Health Act at 31st March increased by 5.0 per cent, from 19,947 in 2009/10 to 20,938 in 2010/11. This increase can be attributed to a rise of 29.1 per cent (4,291) in people on a CTO at 31st March as well as an increase of 16,647 (0.2 per cent) in people detained in hospital. These figures include CTOs and formal admissions for both NHS and independent sector services.

Possible link between formal detention and CTO figures

  • Admissions for treatment under Section 3 of the Mental Health Act fell by 14.4 per cent. This may be connected to the use of CTOs in two ways. A rise in the number of recalls to hospital for patients on CTO (from 1,217 in 2009/10 to 1,601 in 2010/11), approximately 64 per cent of which resulted in a revocation of the CTO, suggests that some 'repeat formal admissions' now appear as revocations of CTOs, rather than as formal admissions. The underlying Section on which a patient was originally detained remains in place whilst they are on a CTO. In addition, the use of CTOs may enable patients to stay sufficiently well so they can be managed successfully in the community.

Place of safety orders

  • The number of uses of place of safety orders (Sections 135 and 136) increased between 2009/10 and 2010/11 by 17.1 per cent. The proportional rise was greater for females than for males (19.1 per cent compared with 15.5 per cent).

Announcement of consultation

  • A consultation on changes to these statistics, made possible by a change in data source recommended as part of the Secretary of State's Fundamental Review of Returns, is planned for launch early 2012. This exercise aims to ensure these statistics are relevant and so far as possible provide answers to questions arising about uses of the Mental Health Act.

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Last edited: 8 September 2020 4:38 pm