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Guardianship under the Mental Health Act 1983: England 2002
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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 2002
- 515 guardianship cases were closed and 540 new cases opened, resulting in 1,024 cases being open at the end of the year (up by 2.5% on 2001).
- 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 2001-2002 the average length of guardianship was 17 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 540 new cases opened in the year to 31 March 2002 in comparison with formal admissions to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983 for 2000-2001 (26,700).
- 10% (15 out of 150) of all local authorities accounted for 44% (450 out of 1024) of cases open at 31 March 2002.
Between 31 March 1995 and 31 March 2002
- The number of guardianship cases (in force at the end of the year) increased from 550 in 1995 to 1,024 in 2002, an increase of 86% (474 cases).
- the number of new cases during the year ending 31 March 2002 was approximately 8% lower than that in 2001, but was up by 35% (140) compared with 1995.
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