The Count Me In census: what it tells us and what it does not

Abstract

On or around the 31 March each year all psychiatric units in the UK undertake the Count Me In census. Now in its fourth year and with 100% of units in England taking part, the Count Me In census offers comprehensive but limited information on all people receiving inpatient psychiatric care. It also offers information on their ethnicity so that comparisons can be made between groups. It is an extraordinary achievement but this achievement has brought with it burdens. Though envisaged as a vehicle for introducing ethnic monitoring, the census is now expected to be a major tool of assessment and an aid to service development. But can this epidemiological survey deliver the information England needs to develop culturally competent services?

Citation

McKenzie, K. (2008), "The Count Me In census: what it tells us and what it does not", Ethnicity and Inequalities in Health and Social Care, Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 62-66. https://doi.org/10.1108/17570980200800010