Admission of patients to mental health facilities: April 2019 to March 2020

Data in this update covers the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As a result figures may not be comparable with previous years as some hospitals reported a change in practice to reduce the number of patients detained in mental health facilities at this time, with greater provision within the community.

Admissions (excluding place of safety extensions)

In 2019-20, there were 7,466 admissions to mental health facilities in Wales.

97% of admissions in 2019-20 were to NHS facilities in Wales, with the remainder admitted to independent hospitals.

Formal admissions under the Mental Health Act 1983 and other legislation (excluding place of safety extensions)

In 2019-20, 1,965 (26%) of the total admissions were formal admissions under the Mental Health Act 1983 and other legislation. This was an increase of 54 (3%) from 2018-19.

95% (1,857 of 1,965) of formal admissions were detained without the involvement of criminal courts (Part II). 78% (1,449 out of 1,857) of these were admitted for assessment, with or without treatment (Section 2 of the Mental Health Act 1983).

Supervised community treatment

In 2019-20, there were 150 patients subject to supervised community treatment (SCT), including 23 for whom an independent hospital was responsible. Of this total, 95 were male and 55 were female.

Of those patients subject to SCT, there were 81 recalls to hospital, 67 revocations and 94 discharges in 2019-20.