Statistics on people with a learning disability and autistic people in mental health hospitals, AT: January 2026, MHSDS: December 2025

At the end of December 2025 (based on hospital spells data):

• There were 3,915 people with a learning disability and autistic people in hospital.
• There were 1,310 admissions and 1,495 discharges. 79% of these were discharged back into the community.
• There were 468,325 referrals¹ for people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

Of these inpatients:

• 1,160 (30%) had been in hospital for over 2 years.
• There are 1,495 inpatients with a planned discharge date (38%).
• 350 (9%) had a delayed discharge.
• The largest proportion (26%) were aged between 25-34 (1,030).
• The lowest proportion (5%) were aged under 18 (190).
• 67% were male (2,640) and 32% were female (1,240).

Findings based on ward stays data:

• There were 3,890 ward stays reported for the end of the period.
• The largest group of inpatients were in an adult mental health ward (2,215, 57%), followed by a learning disabilities ward (780, 20%). 
• 2,360 (61%) were in a non-secure setting². 1,345 (35%) were in a secure setting.
• 465 (12%) travelled over 50km from home to get to the hospital for care or treatment.
• 820 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.