We use cookies to collect anonymous data to help us improve your site browsing experience.

Click 'Accept all cookies' to agree to all cookies that collect anonymous data. To only allow the cookies that make the site work, click 'Use essential cookies only.' Visit 'Set cookie preferences' to control specific cookies.

Set cookie preferences

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

Publication - Statistics

Mental Health Inpatient Census 2024 - Parts 1 and 2

Published
27 May 2025
Directorate
Population Health Directorate
Topic
Health and social care

Results of the eighth Mental Health and Learning Disability Inpatient Census and Outwith NHS Scotland Placements Census, 2024.

Part of

Supporting documents

7. Patients treated outwith NHS Scotland:

  • 135 patients in the 2024 Census were funded by NHS Scotland but receiving treatment outwith NHS Scotland.
  • These patients had been in hospital for an average of 3 years, 3 months at the time of the Census.
  • 30 patients (22%) had a diagnosis of learning disability or autism.

There are patients in the Census who are classified as being outwith NHS Scotland. These are patients with mental health, learning disability, or addiction diagnoses who are funded by NHS Scotland but treated elsewhere, for instance NHS England, private facilities, or local authority care.

Some patients with highly complex, specialist needs are treated outwith NHS Scotland facilities. It can be more cost-effective to send patients to facilities outwith NHS Scotland due to individual needs. Each care package is individually considered by Boards. In total, there were 135 patients treated outwith NHS Scotland in the 2024 Census.

Table 19: Patients outwith NHS Scotland, by NHS Board funding, 2014 – 2024.

Psychiatric, addiction or learning disability inpatients, funded by but treated outwith NHS Scotland, March/April Census 2014 – 2024.

NHS Board

2014

2016

2017

2018

2019

2022

2023

2024

National Services Division

c

c

c

c

c

c

c

0

NHS Ayrshire & Arran

34

29

c

c

c

20

10

8

NHS Borders

c

c

c

27

c

16

c

11

NHS Dumfries & Galloway

10

c

c

c

c

c

6

5

NHS Fife

c

c

c

c

c

7

7

5

NHS Forth Valley

c

c

c

c

0

0

0

0

NHS Grampian

18

14

14

15

16

20

20

17

NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde

11

c

c

c

c

c

6

7

NHS Highland

c

10

c

20

19

9

10

10

NHS Lanarkshire

c

10

14

15

15

43

40

38

NHS Lothian

20

25

24

59

24

22

19

22

NHS Orkney

c

c

c

c

c

c

c

c

NHS Shetland

c

c

c

c

0

0

0

0

NHS Tayside

16

13

11

14

12

c

0

c

NHS Western Isles

c

12

c

13

c

8

0

6

Not known

0

0

0

0

0

c

c

c

All

143

137

109

197

126

162

124

135

c - Suppressed due to small numbers. Secondary suppression also applied.

Reasons and Locations for Treatment

  • 122 of patients (90%) were treated in private facilities. Less than 5 were treated in NHS England and the remainder in other facilities, for instance care homes. 

  • 56% of patients were placed outwith NHS Scotland because there was no facility that could meet the patients’ needs within NHS Scotland, when there was no alternative to admission.
  • 37% were placed outwith NHS Scotland because there were no available beds in an appropriate facility.

The majority of patients treated outwith NHS Scotland are treated in private facilities, while a smaller proportion are treated in NHS England and other facilities.

Figure 13: Locations of patients outwith NHS Scotland

Psychiatric, addiction or learning disability inpatients, funded by but treated outwith NHS Scotland, March/April Census 2016 – 2024

Figure 13: The number of patients treated outwith NHS Scotland in private facilities has increased from 124 in 2023 to 135 in 2024, whereas those treated in NHS England have decreased from 18 in 2016 to 3 in 2024. Figures prior to 2022 are missing some hospital wards and are approximate.

Patient Demographics

Patients treated outwith NHS Scotland were of a similar age compared to those treated in NHS Scotland facilities. For example, 37% were 65 or over, compared to 35% within NHS Scotland patients. 30% of patients treated outwith NHS Scotland were aged under 40.

There were 78 male patients (58%) and 57 female patients (42%) treated outwith NHS Scotland at the 2024 census.

Figure 14: Patients treated outwith NHS Scotland by age or sex

Psychiatric, addiction or learning disability inpatients, funded by but treated outwith NHS Scotland, 2023 2024 census

Figure 14: Proportion of patients treated outwith Scotland were 58% male and 42% female, 30% were aged under 40, 33% were aged between 40 and 64 and 37% were aged 65 and over.

Length of Stay

The average (median) length of stay for patients treated outwith NHS Scotland was 1168 days (approximately 3 years and 3 months).

Table 20: Average (median) days since admission (outwith NHS Scotland), 2024.

Psychiatric, addiction or learning disability inpatients, funded by but treated outwith NHS Scotland, March/April Census 2024.

Group

Average (median) number of days since admission

Approx. number of years / months

Outwith NHS Scotland Patients

1,168

3 years, 3 months

Within NHS Scotland Patients

132

4 months

Diagnoses and anticipated discharge

Of the 135 patients receiving treatment outwith NHS Scotland:

  • 52% of patients were receiving Hospital-Based Complex Clinical Care.
  • 28% were under forensic services
  • 22% had a learning disability or autism

21 patients (16%) of outwith NHS Scotland patients had a primary or secondary diagnosis of a personality disorder, 36 had dementia (27%), and 26 had schizophrenia (19%).

Figure 15: Mental health conditions in patients treated outwith NHS Scotland

Psychiatric, addiction or learning disability inpatients, funded by but treated outwith NHS Scotland, 2024 census

Figure 15: Number of patients treated outwith NHS Scotland with a diagnosis of dementia was 36, followed by schizophrenia (26), learning disability (23) and Personality Disorders (21).  

Where possible data is provided on anticipated discharge/transfer and date of discharge/transfer. Less than 5 (<5%) of patients are anticipated to return to NHS Scotland within one year.

Back to top