title: Scottish psychiatrists in primary health-care settings. A silent majority.
abstract: There has been a growing number of reports of psychiatrists moving out into primary-care settings. We report a survey of consultant psychiatrists to assess the extent of this practice in Scotland. Some time spent in the primary-care setting was reported by 56%, the figures being highest in rural areas. An equal number of non-consultant medical staff were involved. Most schemes were initiated by psychiatrists, over half of whom had had some postgraduate general-practice experience. A similar survey in England and Wales showed that only 19% of consultant psychiatrists spent time in primary-care settings, a smaller proportion of non-consultant staff being involved. The value of working in primary-care settings has yet to be assessed.
authors.affiliation: Royal Edinburgh Hospital.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Pullen
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Yellowlees
mesh_terms: D003158:Community Psychiatry / Q000639:trends*; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011365:Professional Practice Location; D012424:Rural Population; D012606:Scotland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D000078329:Workforce