Mental Health Inpatient Census 2025 - Parts 1 and 2

1. Overview of patients being treated in NHS Scotland facilities

• There were 2941 mental health, addiction and learning disability inpatients in NHS Scotland at the 2025 census.
• 90% of the available hospital beds in NHS Scotland were occupied during the reporting period. However, this percentage varied across different NHS Boards.
• 11% of all patients, for whom this data was available, experienced delayed discharge with an average (median) delay of just under 4 months.

There were 2941 patients on the census date in 2025. This is a 3% decrease from 2024 and a 25% decrease from 2014. Variation exists across NHS Boards, but all have fewer patients in 2025 compared to 2014.

Table 1: Number of patients in psychiatric, addiction or learning disability beds.

Psychiatric, addiction or learning disability inpatients, NHS Scotland, March/April census 2014 – 2025

*These years’ figures are approximate due to some missing hospital ward data.

c - Suppressed due to small numbers, secondary suppression also applied.

Please note that NHS Grampian, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, NHS Lothian, and NHS Tayside, have Regional Units that serve patients from other NHS Boards. NHS Fife also has a low-security Learning Disability Regional Unit for patients from other boards. NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland do not have any mental health, learning disability, or addiction inpatient beds. Instead, their patients receive treatment from other health boards or healthcare providers.

Available beds

There were 3271 available psychiatric, addiction or learning disability beds in NHS Scotland in 2025. This is a 3 percentage point decrease from 2024 and a 28 percentage point decrease from 2014.

Table 2: Number of psychiatric, addiction or learning disability beds.

Psychiatric, addiction or learning disability inpatients, beds and occupancy rates, NHS Scotland, March/April census 2014 – 2025.

* These years’ figures are approximate due to some missing hospital ward data.

The decrease in available mental health beds is a trend seen in other European countries as well. For instance, OECD data shows that psychiatric beds for the UK as a whole declined from 46 per 100,000 people in 2014 to 35 per 100,000 in 2022. However, the data is incomplete for some years and countries, and there may also be variations in methodologies between the nations. It is therefore important to exercise caution when comparing the data.

Table 3: Available beds and inpatients per 100,000 population in NHS Scotland.

Psychiatric, addiction or learning disability inpatients, beds and occupancy rates, NHS Scotland, March/April census 2014 – 2025.

* These years’ figures are approximate due to some missing hospital ward data.

Bed occupancy

The national occupancy rate of psychiatric, addiction, or learning disability beds in NHS Scotland at the 2025 census was 90%, the same as in 2024. Since the census in 2014, occupancy rates have varied between 90% and 84%. However, there is a much larger variation in occupancy rates between different NHS Boards (Table 4).

Table 4: Percentage occupancy by health board.

Psychiatric, addiction or learning disability inpatients, beds and occupancy rates, NHS Scotland, March/April census, 2014 – 2025

* These years’ figures are approximate due to some missing hospital ward data.

c - Suppressed due to small numbers

Boarding and on-pass patients

If a patient is “boarding” from another hospital, it means they are staying in a hospital outwith their local catchment area. This may happen because there were no available beds in a closer hospital. It may also be because their local hospital lacks the necessary services to provide appropriate treatment.

In the 2025 census, there were 58 patients who were boarding from another hospital. Of these, 50 patients (86%) were boarding to another hospital within the same NHS Board. it is important to note that even when a patient is treated in the same NHS Health Board, this can still mean significant distances between their home and the treatment hospital. Additionally, individuals funded by the NHS from another UK nation but receiving treatment in NHS Scotland may be included in the 50 total.

Table 5: Number of patients ‘boarding’ from another hospital in NHS Scotland.

Psychiatric, addiction or learning disability inpatients, NHS Scotland, March/April census, 2014 – 2025

* These years’ figures are approximate due to some missing hospital ward data.

Patients who are “On Pass” are still considered inpatients of a hospital. However they are allowed planned leave as part of their recovery care plan. This also applies to those whose detention under the Mental Health Act has been suspended. When a patient is “On Pass,” their bed may be utilised by another patient.

During the 2025 census, there were 69 patients (2%) “On Pass” for at least an overnight period. Among these patients, 50 (72%) were “On Pass” to their own homes.

Hospital-Based Complex Clinical Care (HBCCC)

Some patients care needs cannot be met outwith a hospital setting and they require long-term complex clinical care. These patients are considered to be receiving Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care (HBCCC). Under the definition of HBCCC, a patient cannot be classified as a delayed discharge. Starting in 2016, the Inpatient census includes data on patients receiving HBCCC.

356 patients (12%) received HBCCC in mental health or learning disability beds, this is decrease of 51% from 2018. 30% of these patients were treated in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, NHS Lothian.

Part 3 of the census provides a more detailed report on HBCCC. This covers patients in mental health or learning disability inpatient beds, patients treated outwith NHS Scotland, and patients in General Acute hospitals who are receiving HBCCC.

Delayed Discharge

Timely discharge from the hospital is crucial for quality care. It reflects person-centred, effective, integrated, and harm-free treatment. Delayed discharge happens when a hospital patient, who is ready for discharge, continues to occupy a bed.

The 2025 census recorded 311 cases of delayed discharge, representing 11% of patients with available data, unchanged from 2024. Data was unavailable for 152 patients and not returned for 69 patients. Additionally, 1 patient was a delayed discharge but there was no data for their delayed discharge date in 2025. The State Hospital reported no patients  experiencing delays while in NHS Dumfries & Galloway 32% of patients experienced delays.

The average (median) length of delayed discharge at the 2025 census was just under 4 months (109 days), which is 12 days more than in 2024

Table 6: Average (median) length of delayed discharge in NHS Scotland in days and the equivalent months.

Psychiatric, addiction or learning disability inpatients, beds and occupancy rates, NHS Scotland, March/April census, 2014 – 2025

* These years’ figures are approximate due to some missing hospital ward data.

Length of Stay

The average (median) length of stay in a facility is significant as it affects service provision by reducing patient and bed turnover. At the 2025 census, the average (median) length of stay was 119 days (4 months).

Table 7: Median length of stay in days and months.

Psychiatric, addiction or learning disability inpatients, NHS Scotland, March/April census, 2014 - 2025

* These years’ figures are approximate due to some missing hospital ward data