Councils received nearly 200,000 DoLS applications in 2015/16

Councils reported receiving nearly 200,000 Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) applications in 2015/16, it has been revealed.

The total number of applications (195,840) is the most since the DoLS were introduced in 2009 and represents 454 DoLS applications received per 100,000 adults in England.

However, the official statistics report published by NHS Digital also found variation between regions, with the North East having almost three times as many received applications (900 per 100,000) compared to London (319). The remaining regions received between 400 and 500 applications per 100,000 adults in 2015-16.

The report noted that following a period of relative stability during 2013-14 (prior to the 2014 Supreme Court Cheshire West judgment and where the total number of applications received was 13,715), a period of month-on-month growth occurred during 2014-15. “This peaked with 14,930 applications received in March 2015, before monthly figures look to have re-stabilised at just above this level throughout 2015-16.”

NHS Digital said there were 105,055 completed applications reported in 2015-16, compared to 62,645 in 2014-15. This represented an increase of 68% and followed a 380% increase in completed applications between 2013-14 and 2014-15 (from 13,040 in 2013-14).

Of the 105,055 completed applications in 2015-16, 76,530 (73%) were granted and 28,530 (27%) were not granted.

“Whilst the proportion of completed applications that have been authorised has generally shown an upward trend since DoLS were introduced in 2009, the proportion of applications that were granted in 2015-16 (73%) represents a reduction compared to the proportion observed in 2014-15 of 83% (52,125 of 62,645),” NHS Digital said. 

The North East has the highest rate of applications completed, with 665 applications per 100,000 residents. This is more than two and a half times the next highest region, the South West (258).

NHS Digital said that although the proportion of applications granted was relatively consistent across most regions, only 44% were granted in the South West, whereas 86% were granted in the North East and London.

Responding to the statistics, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, Cllr Izzi Seccombe, said: "These alarming figures are further evidence of the significant added pressure facing local government as a result of increased DoLS assessments, which is estimated to be costing councils more than £170m a year.

"Councils are doing everything they can to protect the rights of the most vulnerable people and will continue to prioritise those most in need.

"But the Government needs to fulfil its promise to overhaul the system as a matter of urgency and provide adequate funding so that councils have the time and money to do this properly.

"Failure to do this will have a damaging impact on crucial council services on which people rely and will lead to more vulnerable people left facing long waiting times for assessments."