Acute Care Model introduced in 2006 in UK has revolutionised the way Adult inpatient services are provided. Here, we look at the impact of this model on detained patients, which might serve as a service evaluation tool.

Our objective is to study the effect of the acute care model on the application of the 1983 Mental Health Act (MHA) in Adult Psychiatry Wards at Clatterbridge Hospital, England.

Our aim is to measure any difference in the number and duration of detentions, use of tribunal hearings after the inception of this new model.

Data on Section 2 (for assessment) and Section 3 (for treatment) were collected retrospectively from the Register at the hospital MHA Office. As the Acute Care Model was implemented on 6th June 2007, the data were collected from 6th March 2006 to 5th Oct 2008. From these data, the number and duration of stay of detained patients were calculated.

The number of people who were detained in hospital before and after the introduction of acute care did not change (n=122). However, the average duration of detention under Section 3 reduced significantly from 81.44 days to 46.25 days (43.21% reduction). There had also been a 55% decrease in the utilisation of tribunal hearings after the new model (45 tribunals before vs 18 tribunals after).

The Acute Care Model in Adult Psychiatry seems to have had a significant positive impact on detained patients in reducing their in-patient stay and the need for tribunal hearings.