Scottish Mental Health Inpatient Census (SMHIC)
Measures describe a question asked to a participant during a survey or an item of information requested from a manager when they fill out a data return. For example, ‘Who do you live with?’ is a measure and the possible responses might be, mother, father, brother, sister etc.
| Question/Data item wording | Response scale wording | Need OR provision OR receipt | Description of measure | Start Year | Age of interest | Age from | Age to | Informant | Multiple rater | Reporting term | Sweep title | Standard instrument | Notes | Physical health measures | Dataset | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of patients, by Health Condition for long stay patients |
Health Conditions are divided into: |
Provision; | No. patients by health condition for long stay patients | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 3, Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care and Long Stay Patients | No | SMHIC | |||
Days since admission at census date for funding for patients receiving Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care |
Days since admission given under: |
Provision; | Days since admission for funding HBCCC | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 3, Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care and Long Stay Patients | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of patients, by Health Condition for funding for patients receiving Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care |
Health Conditions are divided into: |
Provision; | No. patients by health condition for funding for HBCCC | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 3, Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care and Long Stay Patients | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of patients, by NHS Board responsible for funding for long stay patients |
NHS Boards are divided into: |
Provision; | No. patients responsible for long stay patients | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 3, Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care and Long Stay Patients | No | SMHIC | |||
Rate per 100,000 population, by NHS Board responsible for funding for long stay patients |
NHS Board’s broken divided into: |
Provision; | Rate per 100K of popn' by NHS board responsible for funding long term stays | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 3, Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care and Long Stay Patients | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of patients, by Local Authority of home post code for long stay patients |
Local Authorities are broken down into: |
Provision; | No. patients by LA for long stay patients | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 3, Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care and Long Stay Patients | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of patients, by age group and sex for long stay patients |
Age group broken down into: This is further subdivided into: |
Provision; | No. patients by age group/sex for long stay patients | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 3, Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care and Long Stay Patients | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of patients, by current specialty for long stay patients |
Current Specialty is broken down into: |
Provision; | No. patients by current speciality for long stay patients | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 3, Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care and Long Stay Patients | No | SMHIC | |||
Days since admission at census date for long stay patients |
Days since admission are divided into: |
Provision; | Days since admission at census date for long stay patients | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 3, Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care and Long Stay Patients | No | SMHIC | |||
Age breakdown of patients treated outwith but funded by NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024 |
Patients by age group for each year given under: * c – Data excluded due to small numbers. Secondary suppression applied. |
Provision; | Age breakdown - patients treated outwith | 2014 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Body Mass Index of patients receiving forensic services, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Body Mass Index (BMI) given each year under: * Patients in eating disorder wards are not included |
Provision; | BMI patients receiving forensic services | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of patients receiving forensic services who smoke and/or have history of drug/alcohol abuse, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Categories for each year given under: * Patients can be in more than one category |
Provision; | No. patients receiving forensic services smoked/substance abuse | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Patients receiving forensic services with evidence of self-harm in week prior to admission by self-harm type, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Self-harm in week prior to admission for each year is given under: * c – Data excluded due to small numbers. |
Provision; | Patients receiving forensic services with evidence self harm | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Patients receiving forensic services with evidence of suicidal ideation on admission, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Count of “yes” given for each year |
Provision; | Patients receiving forensic services with evidence suicidal ideation | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of patients treated outwith but funded by NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024 |
NHS Board responsible for funding given each year under: * c – Data excluded due to small numbers |
Provision; | No. patients treated outwith | 2014 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Sector of treatment for patients treated outwith but funded by NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Sector of treatment for each year given under: * Some categories merged due to small numbers |
Provision; | Sector of treatment - patients treated outwith | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Sex breakdown of patients treated outwith but funded by NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Patients by sex given for each year under: |
Provision; | Sex breakdown - patients treated outwith | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Length of stay for patients treated outwith but funded by NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024 |
Time since admission as at census date for each year given under: Average (median) days since admission |
Provision; | Length of stay - patients treated outwith | 2014 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Days since care plan review for patients treated outwith but funded by NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Days since care plan review for each year given under: |
Provision; | Days since care plan review - patients treated outwith | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Patients treated outwith but funded by NHS Scotland with a learning disability/autism diagnosis, 2014 – 2024 |
Did patient have a learning disability or autism diagnosis? (given for each year) |
Provision; | Learning disability/autism diagnosis - patients treated outwith | 2014 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of patients, by current specialty for funding for patients receiving Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care |
Current Specialty is divided into: |
Provision; | No. patients by current speciality receiving HBCCC | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 3, Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care and Long Stay Patients | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of patients, by age and sex for funding for patients receiving Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care |
Age group broken down into: This is further subdivided into: |
Provision; | No. patients by age/sex receiving HBCCC | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 3, Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care and Long Stay Patients | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of patients, by Local Authority of home post code for funding for patients receiving Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care |
Local Authority broken down into: |
Provision; | No. patients by LA funding HBCCC | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 3, Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care and Long Stay Patients | No | SMHIC | |||
Rate per 100,000 population, by NHS Board responsible for funding for patients receiving Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care |
NHS Boards broken down into: |
Provision; | Rate per 100K of popn' receiving HBCCC | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 3, Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care and Long Stay Patients | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of patients, by NHS Board responsible for funding for patients receiving Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care |
NHS Boards broken down into: |
Provision; | No. patients by NHS board responsible for funding patients receiving HBCCC | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 3, Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care and Long Stay Patients | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of patients, by ethnicity |
Ethnicity is divided into: |
Provision; | No. patients by ethnicity | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 3, Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care and Long Stay Patients | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of patients, by age group and sex |
Age group broken down into: This is further subdivided into: |
Provision; | No. patients - age group & sex | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 3, Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care and Long Stay Patients | No | SMHIC | |||
Hospital-based complex clinical care (HBCCC) for patients treated outwith but funded by NHS Scotland, 2017 – 2024 |
Did patient receive HBCCC? (given for each year) |
Provision; | Hospital based complex clinical care - patients treated outwith | 2017 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Type of mental health conditions for patients treated outwith but funded by NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024 |
Diagnosis given for each year under: * Patients may have more than one diagnosis |
Provision; | Type of mental health conditions - patients treated outwith | 2014 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of children/young people by source of referral, NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024 |
Source of referral for each year given under: |
Provision; | No. children/young people patients - source of referral | 2014 | 0-18 | 0 | 18 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of patients receiving forensic services in Census, NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024 |
NHS Board’s given for each year under: * c – Data excluded due to small numbers |
Provision; | No. patients receiving forensic services | 2014 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Sex breakdown of patients receiving forensic services, NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024 |
Sex given for each year under: |
Provision; | Sex breakdown receiving forensic services | 2014 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Age breakdown of patients receiving forensic services, NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024 |
Age Category given for eahc year under: |
Provision; | Age breakdown receiving forensic services | 2014 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Ward type breakdown of patients receiving forensic services, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Ward Type for each year given under: * Due to a definitional change, comparisons with 2014 are unavailable |
Provision; | Ward breakdown patients receiving forensic services | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Ward security of patients receiving forensic services, NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024 |
Ward Security Level * Data is missing for some patients where ward security question was not applicable |
Provision; | Ward security patients receiving forensic services | 2014 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Consultant speciality for patients receiving forensic services, NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024 |
Specialty of Consultant for each year given under: * c – Data excluded due to small numbers |
Provision; | Consultant speciality patients receiving forensic services | 2014 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Length of stay for patients receiving forensic services, NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024 |
Days since admission for each year given under: Average (median) days since admission * c – Data excluded due to small numbers. Secondary suppression also applied. |
Provision; | Length of stay patients receiving forensic services | 2014 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of mental health conditions of patients receiving forensic services, NHS Scotland, 2024 |
Number of mental health conditions divided under: * Not all patients receiving forensic services are included due to missing data |
Provision; | No. mental health conditions patients receiving forensic services | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Type of mental health conditions for patients receiving forensic services, NHS Scotland, 2019 – 2024 |
Diagnosis for each year given under: * Mental health diagnoses are based on ICD 10 codes in primary and secondary positions |
Provision; | Type mental health conditions patients receiving forensic services | 2019 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Patients receiving forensic services with physical health co-morbidity, NHS Scotland, 2024 |
Number of physical health conditions for each year given under: |
Provision; | Patienrs receiving forensic services with physical co-morbidity | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Type of physical health co-morbidity for patients receiving forensic services , NHS Scotland, 2019 – 2024 |
Diagnosis given under: * Patients can have more than one physical condition |
Provision; | Type physical health co-morbidity patients receiving forensic services | 2019 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of patients receiving forensic services receiving a general physical examination within one day of admission, NHS Scotland, 2017 – 2024 |
General Physical Exam for each year given under: * c – Data excluded due to small numbers |
Provision; | No. patients receiving forensic services receiving general physical exam | 2017 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of patients receiving forensic services receiving an annual physical examination, NHS Scotland, 2017 – 2024 |
Annual Physical Health Check for every year given under: * c – Data excluded due to small numbers |
Provision; | No. patients receiving forensic services receiving annual physical exam | 2017 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of children/young people by average (median) length of stay, NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024 |
Days since admission for each year given under: Median number of days since admission |
Provision; | No. children/young people patients - average length of stay | 2014 | 0-18 | 0 | 18 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of children/young people by consultant specialty, NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024 |
Speciality of consultant for each year given under: |
Provision; | No. children/young people patients - consulatant speciality | 2014 | 0-18 | 0 | 18 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of children/young people by ward type, NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024 |
Ward Type for all years given as: |
Provision; | No. children/young people patients - ward type | 2014 | 0-18 | 0 | 18 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of children/young people by age breakdown, NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024 |
Age Group for each year given as: |
Provision; | No. children/young people patients | 2014 | 0-18 | 0 | 18 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Adult patients with evidence of suicidal ideation on admission, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Suicidal ideation prior to census for each year given under: |
Provision; | Evidence of suicidal ideation on admission | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Adult patients with evidence of self-harm in week prior to admission , NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Self-harm in week prior to admission for each year given under: * Patients can be in more than one category. |
Provision; | Patients with evidence of self-harm | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Ethnicity breakdown of patients in Census, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Ethnicity, for each year is given under: |
Provision; | Ethnicity breakdown of patients | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Sex breakdown of patients in Census, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
This is broken down for each year into: * Information not returned or “prefer not to say” for a small number of patients |
Provision; | Sex breakdown of patients | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Age and sex breakdowns of patients in Census, NHS Scotland, 2023 |
This is broken down into: And given for: * Information not returned or "prefer not to say" for a small number of patients |
Provision; | Age/sex breakdown patients | 2023 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Reason patient was admitted to inpatient facility, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
This is broken down for each year into: * Not all reasons have been included due to small numbers |
Provision; | Reason patient admitted to inpatient facility | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Marital status of patients in Census, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Data are broken down into: * Not all marital status categories presented due to small numbers. |
Provision; | Marital status of patients | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Patients in Census with dependents, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Dependents given for each year under: * Some information excluded and some figures have been rounded due to small numbers |
Provision; | Patients in census with dependents | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Employment status of patients in Census, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Employment Status is broken down into: * Some information excluded due to small numbers |
Provision; | Employment status of patients | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of adult patients by consultant specialty, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Consultant Specialty is broken down each year into: * Some categories included in “Other” due to small numbers |
Provision; | No. of adult patients by consultant specialty | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of adult patients by other legislation, NHS Scotland, 2024 |
Legislation is broken down into: |
Provision; | No. patients by other legislation | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of mental health conditions of adult patients in Census, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Number of mental health conditions is given each year for: |
Provision; | No. mental health conditions of adult patients | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of adults patients with physical health co-morbidities in Census, NHS Scotland, 2017 – 2024 |
Number of physical health conditions given for each year for: * Data missing for small number of patients in 2017 and 2018 |
Provision; | No. adult patients with physical health co-morbitities. | 2017 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Route of substances used by adult patients in Census with history of drug abuse, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Route of substances used in 4 weeks prior to admission given each year for: * Patients can be in more than one category |
Provision; | Route of substance use - patients with history drug abuse | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Substances used by adult patients in Census with history of drug abuse, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Substances used in four weeks prior to admission for each year given for: * Patients can be in more than one category |
Provision; | What substances used by patients with history drug abuse | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of substances used by adult patients in Census with history of drug abuse, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Number of substances used in 4 weeks prior to admission for each year given as: |
Provision; | No. substances used by adult patients w. history drug abuse | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Type of mental health conditions for adult patients in Census, NHS Scotland, 2017 – 2024 |
Diagnosis for each year divided into: * Mental health diagnoses are based on ICD 10 codes in primary and secondary positions |
Provision; | Type of mental health conditions of patients | 2017 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of adult patients in Census who smoke and/or have history of drug/alcohol use, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Categories given as: * Patients can be in more than one category |
Provision; | No. adult patients who smoke/drug/alcohol abuse | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Body Mass Index of adults patients in Census, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Body Mass Index (BMI) for each year given as: * Patients in eating disorder wards are not included |
Provision; | BMI adult patients in census | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of adults patients receiving an annual physical examination, NHS Scotland, 2017 – 2024 |
Annual physical health check for each year as: * Applies to patients admitted longer than one year |
Provision; | No. adults receiving annual physical exam | 2017 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of adults patients receiving a general physical examination within one day of admission, NHS Scotland, 2017 – 2024 |
General Physical Exam given for each year as: * Applies to patients admitted to mental health bed within last year |
Provision; | No. adult patients receiving general physical exam | 2017 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Type of physical health co-morbidity for adult patients in Census, NHS Scotland, 2017 – 2024 |
Condition for each year broken down into: * Patients can have more than one physical condition |
Provision; | Type physical health co-morbidities | 2017 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Patients per 100,000 population in psychiatric, addiction or learning disability bed, NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024 |
Data given for the following NHS boards: |
Provision; | Patients per 100K in psychiatric, addiction or learning disability bed | 2014 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of psychiatric, addiction or learning disability beds, NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024 |
Data given for the following NHS boards: |
Provision; | No. psychiatric, addiction or learning disability beds | 2014 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Occupancy rates for psychiatric, addiction or learning disability beds, NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024 |
Data given for the following NHS boards: |
Provision; | Bed occupancy psychiatric, addiction or learning disability | 2014 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of patients boarding from another hospital, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
This is given for: |
Provision; | No. patients boarding from other hospital | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of patients on pass at Census, NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024. “On pass” = patients who are legally considered inpatients but are temporarily away from the hospital on planned leave as part of their recovery. |
Data given for: |
Provision; | No. patients "on pass" | 2014 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of HBCCC patients at Census, NHS Scotland, 2017 – 2024 |
Data given for: |
Provision; | No. HBCCC patients | 2017 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of delayed discharge patients at Census, NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2023 |
Yes |
Provision; | No. delayed discharge patients | 2014 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Average (median) length of stay for patients at Census, NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024 |
Average (median) days |
Provision; | Average length of stay | 2014 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of psychiatric, addiction or learning disability beds by ward type, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
This is given for ward type: ¹ Addiction wards are the combination of addiction rehabilitation and addiction detox wards |
Provision; | No. psychiatric, addiction or learning disability beds by ward type | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Occupancy rates for psychiatric, addiction or learning disability beds by ward type, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
This is given for ward type: ¹ Addiction wards are the combination of addiction rehabilitation and addiction detox wards |
Provision; | Occupancy psychiatric, addiction or learning disability beds by ward type | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Ward security level overview, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Ward security level given for: |
Provision; | Ward security level count | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Ward security level by ward type, NHS Scotland, 2024 |
Data given for ward type: ¹ Addiction wards are the combination of addiction rehabilitation and addiction detox wards |
Provision; | Ward security level by ward type | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Observation level by ward type, NHS Scotland, 2024 |
Data divided into: Data given for ward type: c- denotes data suppressed due to small numbers. Secondary suppression also applied. |
Provision; | Observation level by ward type | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Status of patient at admission by ward type, NHS Scotland, 2024 |
Data divided into: Data given for ward type: * Not all ward types included and some figures have been rounded due to small numbers |
Provision; | Patient status at admission by ward type | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Status of patient at Census by ward type, NHS Scotland, 2024 |
Data divided into: Data are then given for each ward type: * Not all ward types included and some figures have been rounded due to small numbers |
Provision; | Patient status at census by ward type | 2024 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of HBCCC patients by ward type, NHS Scotland, 2017 – 2024 |
For each year, data are divided into: Data are then given for each ward type: * Not all ward types included due to small numbers |
Provision; | No. HBCCC patients by ward type | 2017 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Average (median) length of stay (in days) by ward type, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
Data are then given for each ward type: * Not all ward types included due to small numbers |
Provision; | Average length of stay by ward type | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Age breakdown of patients in Census, NHS Scotland, 2016 – 2024 |
This is broken down for each year into: |
Provision; | Age breakdown of patients | 2016 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC | |||
Number of patients in psychiatric, addiction or learning disability bed, NHS Scotland, 2014 – 2024 |
Data given for the following NHS boards: |
Provision; | No. patients in psychiatric, addiction or learning disability bed | 2014 | 18-120 | 18 | 120 | Data manager | No | Past year | Inpatient Census, 2024: Part 1 (Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed Census) Part 2 (Outwith NHS Scotland Placements) | No | SMHIC |
Overview
Aims
The MHIC provides an annual point‑in‑time snapshot of all patients in mental health, addiction and learning disability inpatient beds funded by NHS Scotland, plus those treated outwith NHS Scotland but funded by NHS Scotland, and a linked census of Hospital‑Based Complex Clinical Care (HBCCC) and long‑stay patients. The purpose is to inform policy development, service planning, and performance monitoring at national and local levels. People admitted to mental health inpatient services typically require a combination of community social work involvement, supported housing, social care packages, carer support The census includes people with severe and enduring mental illness and conditions requiring long-term inpatient support, comorbid with social vulnerabilities.
Institution
Scottish Government
Geographic coverage - Nations
Scotland;
Start date
2014
Minimum age at recruitment
0
Sample Size
3,041
Sample
Study design
Administrative dataset
Sample details
The MHIC is a snapshot of people occupying mental health, addiction, or learning disability inpatient beds funded by NHS Scotland at a specific moment, plus individuals treated outwith NHS Scotland but still funded by NHS Scotland, and a linked group in general acute hospitals who are receiving Hospital‑Based Complex Clinical Care (HBCCC) or are long‑stay. In 2024, 60% of patients were male; the largest age groups were 40–64 (36%) and 65+ (35%), with an average age of 54. Most patients identified as White Scottish (73%), and the majority had no dependents (77%). On ward characteristics, acute wards accounted for the largest share (33%).
Sex
All
Sample Characteristics
Inpatient service‑use population
People treated outwith NHS Scotland funded by NHS Scotland
Sample size at most recent sweep
The 2024 census counted 3,041 inpatients occupying 3,366 beds (national occupancy 90%). Within this, 40 patients were under 18, 447 patients were primarily managed by forensic services, and 135 patients were treated outwith NHS Scotland but funded by NHS Scotland (90% of these in private facilities).
Data
Individual data available (e.g. upon special request)?
Yes
Data Access Level
Fully open source
Data Access
https://www.gov.scot/publications/mental-health-inpatient-census-2024-parts-1-and-2/documents/
https://www.gov.scot/publications/mental-health-inpatient-census-2024-parts-1-and-2/documents/
Regional variable present?
Yes
Local Authority variable present?
Yes
Complementary Data
PHS Mental Health Inpatient Activity (Open Data)
SMR04 (Mental Health Inpatient & Day Case)
Genetic Data Collected
Linked Data
CHI numbers
Public Health Scotland’s SMR04 (Mental Health Inpatient and Day Case)
HDR UK Innovation Gateway
Additional information
Website
https://www.gov.scot/collections/mental-health-inpatient-census/
Notes
Related Measures
Age, BMI, Co-morbidities, Demographics, Employment, Ethnicity, Marital status, Sex, Substance abuse,
Study Code
SMHIC
Reference paper(s)
“What does Mental Health Census tell us about NHS services?” (The Herald, 20 Nov 2024).
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24731910.mental-health-census-tell-us-nhs-services/
Funders
Scottish Government