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Guardianship under the Mental Health Act 1983: England 1999

  • Last modified date:
    8 February 2007

This report contains the latest available statistics on the numbers of people subject to guardianship under Sections 7 and 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

Main findings

In the year to 31 March 1999

  • 476 guardianship cases were closed and 600 new cases opened, resulting in an increase of 15% in the number of cases open at the end of the year; 
  • in almost all cases (99%) guardianship was conferred on the local authority, with the remaining 1% conferred on a named individual.
  • for cases closed during 1998-99 the average length of guardianship was 15  months. Of these cases, 66% were for 6 months or over.
  • The 600 new cases opened in the year to 31 March 1999, are small in number when compared with the 27,100 formal admissions to hospital (that are made under the Mental Health Act 1983).

Between 31 March 1992and 31 March 1999

  • the number of guardianship cases (in force at the end of the year) increased from 337 in 1992 to 950. 
  • the number of new cases during the year ending 31 March 1999 represented a 25% increase on 1998, and was around two and a half times the 1992 figure of 238.

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