Northern Ireland Hospital Statistics: Mental Health & Learning Disability (2009/10)
Thursday, 19 August 2010The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety today published statistics on activity at Mental Health and Learning Disability Hospitals within Northern Ireland during the year ending 31 March 2010.
The statistical bulletin presents information on all activity at mental health and learning disability hospitals in Northern Ireland during 2009/10, including information on inpatient and day case activity, outpatient activity, and compulsory admissions under the Mental Health (NI) Order 1986.
Key Points
The key findings presented in the Northern Ireland Hospital Statistics: Mental Health & Learning Disability publication are listed below.
Mental Health
Over the last five years, the total number of admissions to mental health hospitals decreased by 10.3% (1,032), from 10,000 in 2005/06 to 8,968 in 2009/10. Of the 8,968 admissions in 2009/10, 6,018 were treated as inpatients and 2,950 treated as day cases (Figure 1, Table 1.1).
Across HSC Trusts, the highest average number of available beds in mental health hospitals were reported in the Belfast HSC Trust (322.6) whilst the South Eastern HSC Trust reported the lowest (143.5) (Figure 10, Table 1.2).
Between 2005/06 and 2009/10, the average length of stay in mental health hospitals increased by almost 7 days, from 47.7 days to 54.4 days (Figure 13, Table 1.1).
During 2009/10, there were 34,810 scheduled consultant-led outpatient attendances for the mental health specialties. Patients did not attend (DNA) 17.3% (6,028) of these scheduled attendances, whilst a further 6.1% (2,121) could not attend (CNA) (Table 1.3).
Learning Disability
Since 2005/06, the number of admissions to learning disability hospitals decreased by 25.5% (608), from 2,387 in 2005/06 to 1,779 in 2009/10. Of the 1,779 admissions to learning disability hospitals in 2009/10, almost all (1,770) were inpatients. The remaining nine admissions were day cases (Figures 16 – 17, Table 2.1).
Of the 398.9 average available beds in 2009/10, the majority 263.7 were available in the Belfast HSC Trust, 82.2 in the Southern HSC Trust and 53.0 in the Western HSC Trust (Table 2.2).
Across Hospitals, the highest average length of stay was in Muckamore Abbey (651.6 days), compared with an average of 111.2 days in Longstone Hospital, 76.7 days in Lakeview, and 2.1 days in Musgrave Park Hospital (Table 2.2).
In 2009/10, there were 7,079 scheduled consultant-led outpatient appointments at learning disability hospitals in Northern Ireland, of which 5,451 (77.0%) attended, 872 (12.3%) did not attend (DNA) and 610 (8.6%) could not attend (CNA) (Figure 23, Table 2.3).
The information release is published on the DHSSPS 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:
- 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; and,
- MILD Census – Inpatients resident in Mental Health / Learning Disability Hospitals on 17th February each year.
2. All information has been validated with Health & Social Care Trusts, and incorporate all returns and amendments received up to 6 August 2010.
Further information on Mental Health & Learning Disability Statistics is available from:
Hospital Information Branch
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Annexe 2, Castle Buildings
Stormont, BT4 3SQ
Tel: 028 90 522504
Fax: 028 90 523288
3. Media queries to DHSSPS Information Office on 028 9052 0579, or out of office hours contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.
Connect with US
