Mental Health Minimum Dataset (MHMDS) mhd_start_date/mhd_end_date

[AMJ-coder]

Question / Problem statement

I have been reviewing data in the Mental Health Minimum Dataset and hope someone can help. I am attempting to find useful dates in the data. There are two variable names in HES MHMDS (ECHILD Data Catalogue v.3.1):

HES MHMDS 2006 to 2014 mhd_start_date_mhcs START DATE (MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONAL DISCHARGE) an10 (CCYY-MM-DD) The start date of the Mental Health Conditional Discharge Period.
HES MHMDS 2006 to 2014 mhd_end_date_mhcs END DATE (MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONAL DISCHARGE) an10 (CCYY-MM-DD) The end date of the Mental Health Conditional Discharge Period.

Exploring this in the archive:
https://archive.datadictionary.nhs.uk/DD%20Release%20March%202025/nhs_business_definitions/mental_health_conditional_discharge_period.html

Provides the following information:

A Mental Health Conditional Discharge Period is an ACTIVITY GROUP.
A Mental Health Conditional Discharge Period is the period of time that a Mental Health PATIENT is under a mental health conditional discharge.
A Mental Health Conditional Discharge Period starts when a mental health tribunal or the Secretary of State decides that a PATIENT, who is detained under section 37/41 of the Mental Health Act, can be discharged from the care of a Health Care Provider subject to conditions which must be adhered to.
If the PATIENT does not adhere to the conditions then they may be recalled to hospital, this would also end the Mental Health Conditional Discharge Period.
A Mental Health Conditional Discharge Period ends where the PATIENT receives absolute discharge from either the mental health tribunal or the Secretary of State, or the PATIENT dies.

So, this means that these variables are related to Section 41 of the Mental Health Act 1983 and:

1. Start date [mhd_start_date_mhcs] is the end date of the hospital episode
2. End date [mhd_end_date_mhcs] could be that patient
   a. does not meet their conditions of discharge when in the community being supervised by other non-health staff so may be readmitted
   b. receives an absolute discharge under the Mental Health Act 1983
   c. dies

Question:
How have others used these variables? There seem to be no other useful dates in these MHMDS datasets.

Thanks for any insights you can offer,

AMJ coder

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[klharron]

Hi Amanda apologies for not spotting this. Let me check within the team and get back to you. Katie

[AMJ-coder]

Hi Katie, no problem. Any further insights on this query about useful dates in the MHMDS?
Best wishes,
Amanda

[klharron]

Hi Amanda apologies for the delay. No one within the team has any insights on using these dates I'm afraid. Just looking at the data catalogue I can see that there are other dates e.g.
END DATE (MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONAL DISCHARGE)ONWARD REFERRAL DATECARE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION DATEDECISION TO REFER DATE (ONWARD REFERRAL)Have you tried looking at any of these?
Katie

[AMJ-coder]

I have but they are not very useful. Thanks again for your input.