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Guardianship under the Mental Health Act 1983: England 2001
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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 2001
- 519 guardianship cases were closed and 558 new cases opened, resulting in 1,035 cases being open at the end of the year (up by 4% on 2000).
- In almost all cases (99%) guardianship was conferred on the local authority, with the remaining 1% conferred on a named individual or organisation.
- For cases closed during 2000-2001 the average length of guardianship was 16 months (in past years this average has ranged from 13 to 18 months). There is some variability in average case length by Local Authority.
- There were 558 new cases opened in the year to 31 March 2001 in comparison with the 26,700 formal admissions to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983.
- 10% (15 out of 150) of all local authorities accounted for 45% (461 out of 1035) of cases open at 31 March 2001.
Between 31 March 1994 and 31 March 2001
- The number of guardianship cases (in force at the end of the year) increased from 487 in 1994 to 1,035 in 2001, an increase of 113% (548 cases).
- The number of new cases during the year ending 31 March 2001 was approximately 17% lower than that in 2000, but was up by 64% (218) compared with 1994.
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