The Mental Health Minimum Data Set was introduced by Data Set Change Notice 20/19/P13 in April 2000 in response to the lack of national clinical data collection in the mental health arena, in line with the information requirements of the emerging National Service Framework for Mental Health. ISB 0011 Amd 03/2013 retires the Mental Health Minimum Data Set as at 1 September 2014 and mandates a name change to the Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set (MHLDDS). It also mandates the first major change in scope for the data set to
- allow, on an optional basis, the submission of data for clients that are wholly funded by non-NHS means.
Since April 2003 (Data Set Change Notice 49/2002) it has been a mandatory requirement that all providers of specialist adult, including elderly, mental health services have been required to submit central Mental Health Minimum Data Set returns on a quarterly basis, and then on a monthly basis following ROCR approval from April 2013.
The Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set facilitates the collection of person-focussed clinical data and the sharing of such data to underpin the delivery of mental health, Learning Disabilities and Autistic Spectrum Disorder care. It is structured around the clinical process and includes a number of outcome assessments including the suite of Health of the Nation Outcome Scores (HoNOS).
The Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set describes Adult Mental Health Learning Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder Care Spells. These comprise all interventions made for a PATIENT by a specialist Adult Mental Health, Learning Disability or Autistic Spectrum Disorder Care Team from initial REFERRAL REQUEST to final discharge. For some individuals the Adult Mental Health, Learning Disability or Autism Spectrum Disorder Care Spell will comprise a short Consultant Out-Patient Episode; for others it may extend over many years and include hospital, community, out-patient and day care episodes.
Information is collected relating to the various stages in the PATIENT journey and includes activity such as Hospital Provider Spells, Consultant Out-Patient Episodes, community care, and day care episodes; mental health, Learning Disability and Autistic Spectrum Disorder reviews and assessments such as Care Programme Approach (CPA) and Health of the Nation Outcome Scale contacts with mental health professionals; and any diagnoses and treatments.
The prime purpose of the Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set is to provide local clinicians and managers with better quality information for clinical audit, and service planning and management. On-going changes are also designed to support an effective National Tariff Payment System payment process through the use of the Mental Health Clustering Tool.
Central collection provides improved national information, facilitating feedback to Trusts, and the setting of benchmarks. It also allows the 2011 Mental Health Strategy for England (No Health Without Mental Health) priorities to be monitored.The Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set data is collected from providers of specialist mental health, Learning Disability and Autistic Spectrum Disorder SERVICES and submitted via the Bureau Services Portal provided by the Systems and Services Delivery (SSD) team. The Bureau Service processes submissions and produces local extracts for provider and commissioner ORGANISATIONS where ORGANISATION CODES supplied are valid Organisation Data Service codes, and a national pseudonymised extract for the Health and Social Care Information Centre, for storage, analysis and reporting.
Please note that the collection of the Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set does not replace any other collection of mental health, Learning Disabilities or Autistic Spectrum Disorder data such as the Admitted Patient Care Commissioning Data Set Type Detained and/or Long Term Psychiatric Census, which should continue to be collected.
For further information on the Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set, please view the following Health and Social Care Information Centre website: http://www.hscic.gov.uk/mentalhealth
Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set Version History
Version | Date Issued | Summary of Changes | ISN | Implementation Date |
| 1.0 | January 2014 | Introduction of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set | ISB 0011 Amd 3/2013 | 01 September 2014 |
| 1.1 | August 2014 | Minor amendments to Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Data Set | SCCI 0011 | 01 September 2014 |