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. 2019 Nov 21;19(1):866.
doi: 10.1186/s12913-019-4687-8.

Adult mental health provision in England: a national survey of acute day units

Danielle Lamb  1 , Michael Davidson  2 , Brynmor Lloyd-Evans  2 , Sonia Johnson  2 , Samira Heinkel  2 , Thomas Steare  2 , Vanessa Pinfold  3 , Scott Weich  4 , Nicola Morant  2 , James Kirkbride  2 , Louise Marston  2 , Alastair Canaway  5 , Jason Madan  5 , David Osborn  2
Affiliations

Adult mental health provision in England: a national survey of acute day units

Danielle Lamb et al. BMC Health Serv Res. .

Abstract

Background: Acute Day Units (ADUs) exist in some English NHS Trusts as an alternative to psychiatric inpatient admission. However, there is a lack of information about the number, configuration, and functioning of such units, and about the extent to which additional units might reduce admissions. This cross-sectional survey and cluster analysis of ADUs aimed to identify, categorise, and describe Acute Day Units (ADUs) in England.

Methods: English NHS Mental Health Trusts with ADUs were identified in a mapping exercise, and a questionnaire was distributed to ADU managers. Cluster analysis was used to identify distinct models of service, and descriptive statistics are given to summarise the results of the survey questions.

Results: Two types of service were identified by the cluster analysis: NHS (n = 27; and voluntary sector services (n = 18). Under a third of NHS Trusts have access to ADUs. NHS services typically have multi-disciplinary staff teams, operate during office hours, offer a range of interventions (medication, physical checks, psychological interventions, group sessions, peer support), and had a median treatment period of 30 days. Voluntary sector services had mostly non-clinically qualified staff, and typically offered supportive listening on a one-off, drop-in basis. Nearly all services aim to prevent or reduce inpatient admissions. Voluntary sector services had more involvement by service users and carers in management and running of the service than NHS services.

Conclusions: The majority of NHS Trusts do not provide ADUs, despite their potential to reduce inpatient admissions. Further research of ADUs is required to establish their effectiveness and acceptability to service users, carers, and staff.

Keywords: Acute day unit; Alternative to admission; Mental health; Psychiatry; Survey.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Map of UK ADU services
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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