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

Data collected at the end of September 2026 shows that:

• There were 2,115 people with a learning disability and autistic people in hospital at the end of the month.

• More patients were discharged to the community (215) than admitted (135) to hospitals.

• Many inpatients have been in hospital for a long time. Of those in hospital at the end of the month, 1,020 (48%) have had a total length of stay of over 2 years. This includes 310 who have been in hospital for more than 10 years.

• 805 (38%) inpatients are in a secure ward.

• There were more males than females in hospital.

• The largest number of inpatients (640, 30%) were aged between 25-34, and the lowest number (45, 2%) were aged 65 and over.

• 135 were admitted or transferred into hospital. 30 were transfers from other hospitals and 110 were admissions, of which 70 were first admissions and 35 readmissions within a year of the previous discharge.

• 575 inpatients (27%) last had a review of care over 6 months ago.

• 31% of inpatients (555) in hospital travelled up to 10km for care or treatment, whilst approximately 30% of inpatients (530) in hospital travelled over 50km for care or treatment. 

• 365 inpatients (17%) have a date planned for them to leave hospital. 

Overall Counts

There were 2,115 people with a learning disability and autistic people in hospital at the end of the month. Of these, 1,995 have been receiving care from the start of the month.

Of the NHS England commissioning regions, the Midlands and North-East And Yorkshire account for the highest proportion of people with a learning disability and autistic people in hospital (20% of the total), whilst the South-West has the lowest (9% of the total). 

Inpatient Age and Gender

10% (210) of inpatients are under 18 and 2% (45) are 65 and over. The largest number of inpatients are in the 25-34 group (640, 30%).

Overall, there were more males than females in hospital. 

Total Length of Stay

An inpatient’s total length of stay is the time since the date of their first admission to any hospital as part of this continuous period of inpatient care.

Of those in hospital at the end of the month, 1,020 (48%) have had a total length of stay over 2 years. This includes 310 who have been in hospital for more than 10 years.

Ward Security Level

1,310 (62%) of inpatients are in a non-secure ward, and 805 (38%) are in a secure ward. 70 (3%) of inpatients were in a high secure ward setting.

Non-secure wards include inpatients in general wards and psychiatric intensive care units (PICU). Secure wards include patients with low, medium and high secure ward settings.

Time since most recent review of care plan

945 (45%) inpatients had a review of care within the last 12 weeks. 575 (27%) last had a review of care over 6 months (26 weeks) ago.

Counts of admissions include people who were admitted in the month and who were admitted and discharged in the month. For further details see the Glossary and Definitions in the AT Appendices. 

Admissions by Status on Admission

135 were admitted or transferred into hospital. 30 were transfers from other hospitals and 110 were admissions, of which 70 were first admissions and 35 readmissions within a year of the previous discharge.

Source of Admission

Patients were most commonly admitted from their usual place of residence (54%), followed by admission from other hospital (Mental Health/LD) (21%). 

Discharge Destination

215 inpatients were discharged or transferred from a hospital during September 2026. Of these 170 (79%) were discharged back to the community. 35 (17%) were transferred to another hospital setting. 

(Counts of discharges include people who were discharged in the month and who were admitted and discharged in the month.  

The recording of discharge destination changed in v3 of the dataset from April 2021, earlier data is not comparable.

For further details see the Glossary and Definitions in the AT Appendices.)