Mental health inpatient activity
Annual - Year Ending 31 March 2022
A National Statistics publication for Scotland
- Published
- 28 March 2023
- Type
- Statistical report
- Author
- Public Health Scotland
Data summary
Overview of the latest data
Main points
- In 2021/2022, there were 49,690 discharges with mental health conditions from all specialties, a decrease of 0.3% from 2020/2021.
- Since 2016/2017 there have been more discharges with mental health conditions from non-psychiatric specialties than from psychiatric specialties.
- Since 1997/1998 the number of patients treated in hospital for mood (affective) disorders has seen a steady decline from 7,040 to 2,800 in 2021/22, a larger decrease than any other diagnostic group.
For discharges with mental health conditions from all specialties (49,690) in 2021/22:
- The most common diagnosis was mental & behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use, accounting for 35.4% of discharges.
- 94.8% were regular discharges (47,080), 4% were irregular discharges (2,000) and 1.2% were discharges where the patient had died (610).
For patients with mental health conditions from all specialties (23,670) in 2021/22:
- 36% of people were in the age range 65+ years and 53.2% were male.
- People living in the most deprived areas were around three times more likely to experience inpatient care than people living in the least deprived areas.
The information is drawn from the patients’ NHS Board of residence and treatment and runs up to 31 March 2022. Patients receiving inpatient care in psychiatric facilities generate records held nationally on Scottish Morbidity Record 04 (SMR04). Patients receiving care as inpatients and day cases in non-psychiatric (acute) hospitals generate records held nationally on Scottish Morbidity Record 01 (SMR01).
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