Insights into learning disabilities and complex needs: statistics for Scotland

About this release

This quarterly release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) presents statistics relating to adults with learning disabilities who have complex care needs and are registered on a Dynamic Support register (DSR). The purpose of a DSR is ultimately to avoid people with learning disabilities living or staying too long in hospitals, or in out-of-area placements which they/their family have not chosen. It is designed to help professionals working with people with learning disabilities to better respond to situations where there is a need for a more intensive level of care management.

These statistics contain new data i.e. the first release of data for census at 25 September 2025. The figures previously reported for the last 3 quarterly censuses: 26 December 2024, 27 March 2025 and 26 June 2025 have been revised upwards. See revision statement for further information.

Main points

In Scotland, as at 25 September 2025:

• An estimated 1,490 people were registered on the DSR. This is a 3.5% decrease from the estimated number of people on the register this time last year (1,544 on 26 September 2024).
• Of the people on the DSR, 62.7% are male and 37.3% are female.
• Of those people on the DSR, 385 were classified in the urgent category and sit within the three sub-categories below. The urgent category requires intensive planning with and for the people identified:
  • there were 171 people in hospital, of which 66 were classified as a delayed discharge. This is when a person is clinically ready for discharge from inpatient hospital care but continues to occupy a hospital bed beyond the date that they are ready for discharge.
  • there were 34 people recorded as an inappropriate out-of-area placement. This is a placement which the person and/or family did not choose, and which nevertheless occurred because of a lack of suitable resources and/or accommodation within the person's preferred community setting.
  • there were 180 people recorded as at risk of support breakdown. This is when a person's current living situation has become unsuitable. For example, the family carer is unable to continue caring, there are concerns about the suitability or stability of a placement or there is an increase in severity and frequency of challenging behaviour.

Background

The use of a DSR was a key recommendation of the Coming Home Implementation report. It is applicable to adults (aged 18 plus) with learning disabilities with complex care needs whose support is funded by a Local Authority or NHS Board. Along with improving visibility of people with learning disabilities and complex care needs, the DSR is also a tool to support local planning and decision making. It is to be utilised and maintained by each Health and Social Care Partnership to overcome challenges in supporting individual needs, care requirements and risk assessments when collaborating across both health and social care.

The statistics presented in this publication are derived from snapshots of the local dynamic support registers which are submitted quarterly to PHS by Health and Social Care Partnerships.

Further information

The next release of this publication will be March 2026.