Sample Characteristic: People treated outwith NHS Scotland funded by NHS Scotland
Scottish Mental Health Inpatient Census (SMHIC)
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.