A survey of learning disability inpatient services in Scotland in 2007

Abstract

A national review of learning disability services in Scotland, The Same As You? recommended that Health Boards should close all long stay beds by 2005 and reduce assessment and treatment places to specified levels. A psychiatry-led service planning study was carried out in 2007 to find out whether these recommendations had been met. The extent of delayed discharges was also investigated. All 15 Health Boards in Scotland responded and supplied the requested information. There were 388 adults with learning disabilities within inpatient services, 91 of whom were within forensic learning disability services. The age, gender, reasons for admission and length of stay are reported for this inpatient population. Recommendations are made for future recording of delayed discharges and the adequacy of the number of assessment and treatment inpatient places in Scotland is discussed.