Data on secure hospital care and number of beds: FOI release

Information requested

Can I please make an FOI for the following information;

i. How many secure hospitals are there, with a breakdown of each nation
ii. A breakdown of how many secure hospitals per level of security (high/medium/low)
iii. A map or document on the location of these hospitals
iv. How many secure hospital beds are there in total
v. A breakdown of secure hospital beds per level of security
vi. Who are the provider organisations of secure hospital care (please list them)

Response

Most of the information you have requested is available from: Annex E: Forensic mental health inpatient provision - Independent Forensic Mental Health Review: final report - gov.scot and Supporting documents - Mental Health Inpatient Census 2025 - Parts 1 and 2 - gov.scot.

Although published in 2021, the Independent Forensic Mental Health review is still accurate in terms of the facilities that are available. There is only one secure hospital in NHS Scotland, the State Hospital. The remainder of secure inpatient facilities are in wards in other hospitals, and these are detailed in the Independent Forensic Mental Health review, with their levels of security and details of their provider organisations (Questions i, ii and vi). The Additional data spreadsheet (“Wards” tab) for the Mental Health Inpatient Census 2025 has a breakdown of the total number of secure beds (Question iv), and by level of security (Question v). Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the websites listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested: Question iii – a map or document on the location of these hospitals. The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for because the Scottish Government is not responsible for the subject. As such, I hereby provide you with formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. However, you may wish to contact the health boards identified in the Independent Forensic Mental Health review, as they may be able to help you:

State Hospital
NHS Ayrshire & Arran
NHS Borders
NHS Dumfries & Galloway
NHS Fife
NHS Forth Valley
NHS Grampian
NHSGGC (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde)
NHS Highland
NHS Lanarkshire
NHS Lothian
NHS Tayside

Outwith NHS Scotland, Home - Shaw - Surehaven and Priory Hospital Ayr Clinic - Priory also have some low-secure bed provision.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.