Statistics on people with a learning disability and autistic people in mental health hospitals, AT: August 2026, MHSDS: July 2026

At the end of July 2026 (based on hospital spells data):

• There were 3,985 people with a learning disability and autistic people in hospital.
• There were 1,415 admissions and 1,530 discharges. 75% of these were discharged back into the community.
• There were 467,225 referrals¹ for people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

Of these inpatients:

• 1,075 (27%) had been in hospital for over 2 years.
• There are 1,565 inpatients with a planned discharge date (39%).
• 405 (10%) had a delayed discharge.
• The largest proportion (27%) were aged between 25-34 (1,070).
• The lowest proportion (5%) were aged under 18 (195).
• 66% were male (2,615) and 33% were female (1,340).

Findings based on ward stays data:

• There were 3,960 ward stays reported for the end of the period.
• The largest group of inpatients were in an adult mental health ward (2,330, 59%), followed by a learning disabilities ward (695, 18%). 
• 2,535 (64%) were in a non-secure setting². 1,320 (33%) were in a secure setting.
• 465 (12%) travelled over 50km from home to get to the hospital for care or treatment.
• 880 patients were restrained at least once.

¹ These include all open referrals without a hospital spell associated with them if the inpatient did not need to stay overnight in hospital.

² Non-secure wards include inpatients in general wards. Secure wards include patients in low, medium and high secure ward settings.