The development of an integrated psychiatric service in a Scottish community.
The deployment of a specialist psychiatric team and closer integration with primary health care practitioners has led to a greater proportion of first contacts as out-patients being seen compared with national data, and a relatively lower in-patient admission rate. The increase was in those patients seen in health centres rather than in additional out-patient clinics. Despite this there is evidence of a slow accumulation of patients with psychosis whose main requirements is suitable supported accommodation. Such a deployment into the community is a more economic use of resource and can, with advantage, assist the traditional hospital-based services in the transition from a custodial role.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012306:Risk; D012606:Scotland