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In-patients formally detained in hospitals under the Mental Health Act 1983 and other legislation, England: 1989-1990 to 1999-2000

  • Last modified date:
    8 February 2007

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 private mental nursing homes. It includes figures for the period 1989-90 to 1999-00.

Key facts

  • The number of formal admissions to hospital under the Act was 26,700 in 1999-00 little changed from 26,900 in 1998-99 and up from 16,300 in 1989-90
  • 89% of all formal admissions were to NHS hospitals under Part II of the Act
  • The number of men formally admitted under Part II of the Act (Sections 2,3 and 4) to NHS facilities nearly doubled between 1989-90 and 1999-00 from 6,400 to 12,200, whereas the number of women increased to 11,600 from 7,900 over the same period, a 47% increase
  • In 1999-00, 20,800 people were formally detained under the Act after admission to hospital as informal patients
  • The rate of detentions in NHS hospitals under the Act (including detentions after admission) in 1999-00 in England was 91 per 100,000 population
  • At 31 March 2000, there were 12,900 patients detained in hospital, of which 1,300 were in high security psychiatric hospitals, 10,200 in other NHS facilities and 1,400 in private mental nursing homes

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