Inappropriate out of area placements

This chart shows the number of days adult patients spend on inappropriate out of area acute placements (OAPs) per rolling quarter across mental health trusts. The figures can be examined from a national perspective, Integrated Care Board, or by Trust sending the patient out of area. You can also compare data with up to five other areas.

Exploring the charts: For ICBs and Trusts, click in the box to compare data sets. We should expect to see the lines trend downwards if the target to eliminate inappropriate OAPs is to be achieved.

Policy context

The Government set a national ambition to eliminate inappropriate OAPs in mental health services for adults in acute inpatient care by 2020/21. The ambition remains in place as a priority within the annual NHS England planning guidance.

Note: An inappropriate out of area placement (OAP) for acute mental health in-patient care is defined as when a person with assessed acute mental health needs who requires adult mental health acute inpatient care, is admitted to a unit that does not form part of their usual local network of services. This means an inpatient unit that does not usually admit people living in the catchment of the person’s local community mental health service, and where the person cannot be visited regularly by their care co-ordinator to ensure continuity of care and effective discharge planning.

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