CQC launch investigation into detentions under the Mental Health Act

NHS Digital has published new statistics which show the number of detentions under the Mental Health Act in England have risen throughout 2015/16. Following the publication of the figures the CQC has announced they will launch an investigation in to the rise.

NHS Digital has published two reports:

Inpatients formally detained in hospitals under the Mental Health Act 1983 and patients subject to Supervised Community Treatment

Mental Health Bulletin 2015/16

The first report includes a snapshot count from 31 March 2016 which looks at the number of patients detained under the Mental Health Act. The report also looks at the use of section 136. Figures are broken down in to whether a person was taken to a hospital or a police cell. The use of Community Treatment Orders are also included.

The Mental Health Bulletin presents the number of people who used adult secondary mental health and learning disability services during 2015-2016.

Key findings from the report Inpatients formally detained in hospitals under the Mental Health Act 1983 and patients subject to Supervised Community Treatment

Figures show that 63,622 people were detained in 2015-16, 9 per cent higher than 2014/15 when there were 58,699 detentions. This is the highest number since 2005/6 (43,361 detentions).

The use of section 136 of The Act under which people were brought to hospital as a place of safety increased by 18 per cent since last year, to 22,965. At the same time there was a fall in the use of police cells over the same period.

At the end of March 2016 25,577 people were subject to The Act of whom 25,151 were detained in hospitals.

Key findings from the Mental Health Bulletin

An estimated 1,805,905 people were in contact with adult mental health and learning disabilities services at some point in the year.

This means that an estimated 3,444 people per 100,000 of the adult population in England accessed adult mental health and learning disabilities services.

An estimated 5.6 per cent of people in contact with adult mental health and learning disabilities services spent time in hospitals during 2015/16.

Next steps: The CQC has announced it will launch an investigation into the reasons why detentions under the Mental Health Act in England continue to rise. Findings are expected to be published next year.