Use of a capacity audit tool in a mental health setting

This paper reports on a pilot applying the capacity audit tool (CAT) in a mental health environment and what the tool reveals regarding mental health in-patient capacity issues.

The CAT was modified to create an electronic mental health-relevant tool to audit acute in-patient capacity. This tool was then piloted across nine bedded units, within a single Local Health Network, covering a total of 153 mental health beds.

The application of the mental health CAT resulted in 100% compliance in completion. The findings revealed that 16% (25 beds) of the 153 beds surveyed were occupied by patients who did not need to occupy the bed or the bed was vacant. Of these 25 beds, 10 had patients awaiting transfer to another facility or service, nine were empty and six were occupied by patients ready for discharge but for whom there were delays.

The CAT was successfully applied to the mental health setting and identified a set of opportunities to improve processes and practices to reduce the identified delays or barriers in order to improve patient flow.