NEW LONG-STAY PATIENTS - 2 YEARS LATER

Objectives: The aims of this study were to review the outcome of those long-stay patients two years after identification and to compare thos e discharged with those remaining in hospital in order to identify fac tors which might contribute to their continuing stay. Methods: All the new long-stay patients who were more than one year and less than six years on Ist March 1992 were included in the study. Their current plac ement. Legal status and demographic and clinical details were recorded . Findings: Sixtynine percent of the original cohort remained in hospi tal, 9 % had died, and 22 % had been discharged, mainly to highly staf fed accommodation. Approximately half of those remaining in hospital w ere considered suitable for community placement. Those remaining in ho spital were older, had longer durations of illness and were more likel y to be dangerous than those discharged. Conclusions: Despite continui ng developments in community services a considerable number of new lon g-stay patients still remain in hospital and the proportion of those c ompulsorily detained remains unchanged.