The Mental Health Minimum Dataset (MHMDS) is an approved NHS Information Standard that delivers robust, comprehensive, nationally consistent and comparable person-based information on patients in contact with specialist secondary mental health services. It captures key information from the mental health care pathway.

MHMDS supports a variety of secondary use functions such as commissioning, clinical audit, research, service planning, inspection and regulation, monitoring key government policies and legislation including the NSF and Mental Health Act, performance management and benchmarking at both local and national level and national reporting and analysis.

This version of MHMDS is mandated for central submission by the Department of Health and has ROCR approval ROCR/OR/0017/FT6/002MAND.

Trusts are required to submit their completed MHMDS Intermediate Database to the Mental Health Bureau Service via N3 NHS private network, on a quarterly basis.

Adults aged 18 or over (including elderly adults) who receive NHS funded specialist secondary mental health care services and are, or are thought to be, suffering from a mental illness. Children and adolescents under the age of 18 should also be included where they are in receipt of care from a specialist adult secondary mental health service or an early intervention service. The updated MHMDS Information Standard will be used across the range of organisations that provide NHS funded specialist secondary adult mental health services including:

NHS Mental Health Trusts
NHS Foundation Trusts
NHS Acute Trusts
NHS Care Trusts
Primary Care Trusts (PCTs)

where there is direct provision of specialist secondary adult mental health services.

Out of Scope

The following areas are currently out of scope and should consequently not be included within MHMDS:
1.All patients under the age of 18 (except where they are accessing a specialist adult mental health service or Early Intervention Services (EIS)) including patients solely in contact with specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and not otherwise treated in an adult setting.

2.Patients receiving treatment in a specialist Mental Health care service provider but are not suffering from a mental illness e.g.
oSmoking cessation services.
oAddictions and substance misuse services.
oSome learning disability services.
oSome alternative therapy services.
oSome counselling services.
oOthers.

3.Patient activity in prison health services.

4.Mental Health services provided only at a primary care level (such as by GPs or Improving Access to Psychological Therapies), by social services or by independent providers.