Length of stay

A significant proportion of patients who are admitted to mental health inpatient hospitals stay for extended periods of time due to the nature of their illness.  This is particularly the case for older people who may be suffering chronic, degenerative illnesses such as dementia and require long-term care.

This is illustrated in the chart below where more than 70% of discharges occur within 4 weeks of admission in the 15 - 44 year old age groups, progressively declining to around 30% of discharges in people aqed 75 and over.

 

Discharges from mental illness specialties in Scottish hospitals
Percentage of patients discharged within 4 weeks of admission, by sex and age 
Year ending 31st March 2009

Source: ISD Scotland SMR04.

 

More detailed information on length of stay for discharged and resident inpatients can be found in the linked table.

Mental illness discharges and residents by age, sex and length of stay year ending 31st March 2009