Patients in mental health hospitals and units in Wales, 2008

Statistics include data as at 31 March 2008. The latest release updates the statistics previously released on 24 October 2007.

Patients resident in hospitals and units for people with a mental illness in Wales:

• The number of patients had fallen by 17 per cent to 1,892 since 1998. Between 1997-98 and 2005-06 the number of hospital beds available fell by 16 per cent.
• 20 per cent of patients were in hospitals with more than 100 patients compared to 39 per cent in 1998.
• 507 patients (27 per cent of patients) were detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 and other legislation compared to 437 patients (19 per cent) in 1998.
• There were 942 female patients and 950 male patients.
• 59 per cent of female patients were aged 65 or over compared to 40 per cent of male patients.

Patients resident in hospitals and units for people with a learning disability in Wales:

• The number of patients had fallen by 73 per cent since 1998 to 142.  Between 1996-97 and 2005-06 the number of hospital beds available fell by 71 per cent.
• The number of patients who had been resident for 2 years or more had decreased by 346 or 78 per cent since 1998.
• All patients were recorded as being resident in hospitals with fewer than 100 patients compared to 43 per cent of patients in 1998.
• There were 48 female patients and 94 male patients compared to 221 and 311 respectively in 1998. 18 patients, 13 per cent of the total, were detained under the Mental Heath Act 1983 and other legislation.

Further information can be found on the StatsWales website

Contact

Tel: 029 2082 5080
E-mail: stats.healthinfo@wales.gsi.gov.uk