Mental Health Inpatient Census 2023 Part 3: hospital-based complex clinical care and long stay

Key Points 

• in the 2023 census, there were 1,323 patients in Hospital-based complex clinical care (HBCCC) or long-stay.
• these patients were primarily from older age groups. Only 19 (1%) patients were under 18 years old, while 530 (40%) were aged 65 or older. 
• the majority of patients in the Census identified as White Scottish, accounting for 68%. 

Key findings: Patients in receipt of Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care (HBCCC) 

• there were 637 patients receiving Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care. 
• among them, 508 (80%) patients receiving HBCCC were in a Mental Health & Learning Disability Inpatient Bed within an NHS Scotland facility on the Census date. 
• 79 (12%) patients were in a General Acute / Community Hospital NHS Scotland facility. There were 50 (8%) patients treated outwith NHS Scotland. 
• in the HBCCC patient group, 58% were male, and 42% were female. 
• among these patients, 262 (41%) were under the care of a consultant specialising in Psychiatry of Old Age. 
• out of all HBCCC patients, 160 (25%) had been in the hospital for less than 6 months at the Census date. 

Key findings: Long Stay patients (who are not in receipt of HBCCC) 

• there were 686 Long Stay patients who were not receiving HBCCC.
• among these patients, 558 (81%) were in a Mental Health, Learning Disability, or Addiction Inpatient Bed within an NHS Scotland facility on the Census date. 
• 58 (8%) patients were in a General Acute / Community Hospital NHS Scotland facility, while 70 (10%) patients were treated outwith NHS Scotland. 
• in the Long Stay patient group, 60% were male, and 40% were female. 
• out of these patients, 281 (41%) were under the care of a consultant specialising in General Psychiatry. 
• among Long Stay patients, 128 (19%) had been in the hospital for at least 5 years.