Socio-economic deprivation and admission rates to secure forensic psychiatry services

Annual admission rates from the North-East Thames Region to maximum- and medium-secure forensic psychiatry services demonstrated a highly significant correlation with social deprivation measured at district health authority level using the Jarman UPA 8. There were specific associations with the number of unemployed persons, overcrowded households, and persons from ethnic minorities in the districts studied. There was a 10-fold difference in treated prevalence rates across the region, indicating that certain purchasing authorities may be seriously underfunded to meet the needs of their catchment area populations for secure forensic psychiatry services. Further research is required into the nature of the association between admissions to these services and social deprivation. It is readily apparent that a new formula is required for the allocation of resources in the face of such wide disparities in demand from different geographical locations.