Around 20% of compulsory detained psychiatric patients re-admitted within three months, says report

July 25, 2005
by Angela Hussain

Around 20% of compulsory detained psychiatric patients are re-admitted within three months of discharge, according to a new report.

Some people are also being detained solely because they did not comply with treatment, says the report published by the the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health charity and the Mental Health Act Commission, which is responsible for monitoring how mental health law is implemented.

The report, entitled Back on Track?, examines the care received by more than 250 patients detained twice in three years.

It shows one third did not have a care plan relating to their previous discharge in their hospital case notes.

The report also found that less than half of care plans included information about a patient's cultural, physical health, vocational or financial needs.

Black and Asian people, women and patients over 40 fared worse in some aspects of their assessment and care, said the report.

The report found a gap between what was in care plans and what people reported getting. While 94% had their psychological needs assessed, only 63% reported getting help with them.

Help with personal relationships was planned for 56% of people. But help was received by 23%.

Back on Track? makes 18 recommendations to improve care offered to people when they leave hospital after detention.

These include better monitoring of care planning; improved record-keeping and sharing between hospital and community services; comprehensive discharge planning; and full service user involvement in writing and reviewing care plans.

Christopher Heginbotham, chief executive of the Mental Health Act Commission, said: "The care programme approach (CPA) is a sensible process that should not be difficult for providers to put in place properly."

Back on Track? includes a practical audit tool for services to evaluate their CPA provision, and a review of the literature on the CPA, looking at the history and background of the CPA.

Read for yourself: Back on Track?

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