Residential care provision in mental health: The current picture and future uncertainties

A survey was undertaken of all residential facilities for adults with mental health problems within a sample of 35 UK district health authorities. Although the private sector was found to be the largest single provider for this client group, health authorities were beginning to provide a significant number of places in residential and nursing home facilities. Many of these were being developed jointly with housig associations and other voluntary agencies, as is encouraged by the current financial benefits. Health authority-initiated provision was found to be associated with hospital closure plans, but the survey suggests that the private sector is not currently involved in local planning. Uncertainties about future funding arrangements under the NHS and Community Care Act (1990) raise questions about the future coordination and funding of hospital closure programmes.