Summary
These provisional statistics were collected by the Commission for the period 1 October to 31 December 2009.
We cannot be absolutely certain that the quarterly figures notified to the Commission, and consequently reported here, are correct at date of publication. This applies particularly to CTO and Guardianship figures where notifications are subject to delays.We work continually with the range of agencies responsible for supplying us with information to verify our statistics. Please see our Annual Reports for finalised figures.
Please use the links within the section of this summary entitled "Detailed statistics" in order to access detailed tables and graphs.
Emergency and short-term detention
The Code of Practice, which supports good practice under the Act, makes it clear that the preferred route for a person into compulsory treatment isthrough the use of a short-term detention certificate.This route provides better safeguards for the patient than an emergency admission.
Rates of short-term orders granted have changed little in the quarter, remaining highly variable between local authority areas. They range from 25 per 100,000 population in Angus, to 120 per 100,000 population in Glasgow City.
For Scotland as a whole, 62% of all emergency detention certificates (EDCs) granted in the quarter had the consent of a mental health officer (MHO). Overall, 37% of EDCs in Scotland did not have MHO consent.
The law says that MHO consent for emergency detention should be sought where practicable.Table 79 shows variations between NHS board areas.Lack of MHO consent is more common in out of hours situations.The proportion of EDCs granted out of hours without MHO consent ranges from 50% in Ayrshire and Arran to 0 in Borders and the Island Boards.
Over the four quarters reported there have been only slight variations in the proportions of emergency detentions involving informal patients as compared with the proportions involving people in the community (Table 59a).
The law says that MHO consent for emergency detention should be sought where practicable.Table 79 shows variations between NHS board areas.Lack of MHO consent is more common in out of hours situations.The proportion of EDCs granted out of hours without MHO consent ranges from 50% in Ayrshire and Arran to 0 in Borders and the Island Boards. In Island Health Boards numbers of EDCs are too small to allow meaningful comparison with other areas
Community-based compulsory treatment orders (CCTOs)
The number of new community-based CTOs in the quarter reported to us is 22 down from 28 last quarter.
In our quarter 3, 2009 statistics, we reported that, according to our point prevalence data, there may be a gradual increase in the overall numbers of people on CCTOs. In this quarter, there has been a decrease in the number of CCTOs granted from 652 to 644
Variations of existing hospital-based orders to community-based orders have fallen between quarter 3 and quarter 4 in 2009. There has been a decrease from 64 to 62 (Table 2).
People subject to community CTOs were temporarily recalled to hospital on 37 occasions. Thirty two individuals were involved in these recalls.
Young People
In the quarter October - December 2009, we were notified of 53 young people being admitted to non- specialist facilities.17% (9) of these admissions involved children aged under 16. These admissions took place across all NHS areas (excluding island authorities).
Over the last four quarters, there has been a rise in the number of reported admissions of 16-17 year olds to non-specialist facilities. (Figure 2)
In the fourth quarter of 2009, 79% of all under-18 psychiatric admissions to non-specialist facilities occurred in adult psychiatric wards. (Table 62).
Point prevalence information: numbers of people subject to compulsory powers
At the start of every quarter we use our database to conduct a census of people subject to compulsory powers on the selected date.Figures for the previous three quarterly census dates have been showing a gradual increase in the number of people subject to CTOs based in the community. In this quarter (Q4/09), there has been a decrease in CCTOs granted from 652 to 644(Table 64; Figure 3). The numbers on short term detention vary marginally from quarter to quarter but the direction is not consistent (Table 64).
On the October 2009 census date, a total of 2726 people were subject to compulsion.Gender and age patterns amongst the census populations have changed little since the last report: 35% of people counted on the census date were women, 65% men (Table 65).Similar numbers of women (103) and men (110) were on short-term orders.Of all those on hospital based compulsory treatment orders on the census date, 39% were female, 61% male. Of those on community based compulsory treatment orders 35% were female, 65% were male.
Of those subject to compulsory powers, men were more likely to be subject to criminal proceedings: 23% compared with 7% of women.
It's clear from Table 65 that there are far more men than women for all people detained. A much higher number of men are on longer term detentions.
The age distribution on 7th October, as shown in pie charts (Figures 4a and 4b), differs between men and women who are detained. For example, there are proportionately more men in the 25-44 age band than women, and proportionately more women in the 65-84 age band than men.
Table 66 shows rates of detention per 100,000 population by order type and health board area, and Table 67 shows actual numbers. Excluding island health boards (see notes), Table 66 shows variation in rates by health board area.Short-term detention rates range from 1 to 6 per 100,000 population. Hospital-based CTO rates range from 13 in Borders to 36 in Tayside, similar to previous census dates.Community-based CTO rates range from 8 to 16, and are highest in Fife and lowest in Ayrshire and Arran.
Adults with Incapacity Act activity
In the fourth quarter of 2009, 329 welfare guardianship applications were notified to the Commission.Consistent with the trend over the past2-3 years, in Scotland as a whole, there were substantially more private welfare guardianships granted, than there were local authority ones (Table 70).
In 67% of applications notified, the applicant was a relative or carer. (Table 71).
51% of all orders included both welfare and financial powers (Table 73)
We do not report on all causes of incapacity as some of the numbers are very small. Table 74 shows that the most common cause of incapacity in younger age groups is learning disability. In older age groups the main cause of incapacity cited is dementia.
The proportion of orders granted for an indefinite duration for this quarter stands at 71%, (Table 75)
In 98% of orders granted, the power to determine care and accommodation (or where adult should reside) was included.(Table 76)
Detailed statistics
- Orders Granted in the quarter (Tables 2 and 4; Figure 1)
- New emergency orders, short-term orders, and nurse holding powers granted by Health Board Area, quarterly data (Tables 7 - 22) Tables 7 to 22 Orders Granted by HB
- New emergency and short-term orders granted, by MHO Local Authority (Tables 23-56) Tables 23 to 56 Orders Granted by LA
- Episode sequences and pre-detention status- the sequence of orders in episodes of detention and status prior to detention e.g.from informal hospital care,or from the community. (Tables 58-59b) Tables 58 & 59 STD
- Admissions of young people to non-specialist facilities(Table 62; Figure 2) Table 62 Non Spec Wards
- Point prevalence- people subject to compulsory powers on census date of 1st April 2009. (Table 64-67) (Figure 3 and figures 4a and 4b)
Tables 64 to 67 PP - Adults with Incapacity Act - welfare guardianship activity
(Tables 70-76; Figure 5) Tables 70 to 76 AWI - Emergency detention and mental health officer consent, by time granted (Tables 79-80) Table 79 & 80 EDs MHO Consent
Notes:
- There is no table 1 or table 3 as we no longer report new CPSA orders quarterly and there isno table 60 as weno longer report quarterly on advance statement overides
- Point Prevalence figures presented in table 64 for previous quarters are "re-run" figures. This means that there may be slight variations from those reported for previous census dates. Following analysis of the effects of time delay on point prevalence figures, it was decided that, while there was a little variation to figures over time, this was not sufficient to require delays in reporting.
