Statistics on people with a learning disability and autistic people in mental health hospitals, AT: October 2025, MHSDS: September 2025

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

• There were 4,000 people with a learning disability and autistic people in hospital.
• There were 1,435 admissions and 1,555 discharges. 78% of these were discharged back into the community.
• There were 455,710 referrals¹ for people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

Of these inpatients:

• 1,155 (29%) had been in hospital for over 2 years.
• There are 1,455 inpatients with a planned discharge date (36%).
• 345 (9%) had a delayed discharge.
• The largest proportion (27%) were aged between 25-34 (1,070).
• The lowest proportion (5%) were aged under 18 (205).
• 67% were male (2,680) and 32% were female (1,285).

Findings based on ward stays data:

• There were 3,965 ward stays reported for the end of the period.
• The largest group of inpatients were in an adult mental health ward (2,310, 58%), followed by a learning disabilities ward (755, 19%). 
• 2,420 (61%) were in a non-secure setting². 1,345 (34%) were in a secure setting.
• 490 (12%) travelled over 50km from home to get to the hospital for care or treatment.
• 810 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.