The effects of establishing a psychiatric consultation-liaison service: changes in patterns of referral and care.
The establishment of a psychiatric consultation-liaison service in Nottingham more than trebled referrals from general hospital wards and the accident and emergency (A&E) department over a period of 4 years--without an equivalent rise in total admissions. Most patients were suffering from a mental disorder, 43% having an organic or functional psychosis; 86% were making their first psychiatric contact and 29% of recontacts had only been seen previously at a District General Hospital (DGH).
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*