Specialist inpatient services for people with learning disabilities across the four countries of the UK

Tizard Learning Disability Review,Volume 21, Issue 4, October 2016. Purpose This paper compares data from national censuses on specialist inpatient service use by people with learning disabilities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Design/methodology/approach National statistics (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) reporting inpatient service censuses including people with learning disabilities were accessed, with data extracted on trends over time, rate of service use, young people and length of stay. Findings The number and rate of people with learning disabilities in specialist inpatient services varied across the UK: 230 people in Scotland (rate 4.88 per 100,000 population); 3250 people in England (5.48); 183 people in Wales (5.90); 144 people in Northern Ireland (7.82). The number of people in inpatient services in Northern Ireland halved over four years, in other areas reductions were modest. Between 5% and 8% of people in inpatient services were children/young people. Median length of stay in the person ’s current inpatient service varied: 19 months in England; 33 months in Scotland; 3-5 years in Northern Ireland. Originality/value This paper is a first attempt to compare national inpatient service statistics across the UK. With increasing divergence of health and social service systems, furthe r comparative analyses of services for people with learning disabilities are needed.
Source: Tizard Learning Disability Review - Category: Disability Source Type: research