The status required for any patient who is formally detained under the Mental Health Act, or any patient who is not formally detained, but has previously had a period of detention in the same hospital provider spell, or any patient under the care of a consultant in the psychiatric specialties whether or not formally detained.
See Data Items (A - Z) – Legal Status
Data is collected to help inform authorities about the use of legal powers of detention and to allow them to monitor the effect of legislation and the variations in the use of powers of detention between local health boards.
NB: The Legal Status/Mental Category return should include all patients admitted during the course of the financial year who were detained at submission whether or not they have been discharged subsequently.