General Practice care of enduring mental health problems: an evaluation of the Wellington Mental Health Liaison Service.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the development and evaluation of a primary care service for a population of mental health consumers who had previously been predominantly cared for by a specialist service.


METHODS
Consumers were interviewed at regular intervals after entry to the programme. The Health of the Nation Outcomes Scale (HoNOS) and the Life Skills Profile (LSP) outcomes measures were used with consumers at intervals of 0,3,6,12 and 18 months after entry to the programme. A cost comparison was made between services provided to consumers in the year before entry to the programme, and after entry.


RESULTS
Consumers reported no deterioration in their clinical condition while under the care of general practitioners, and they were largely satisfied with general practitioner care. Consumers' LSP scores were stable after entry to the programme. General practitioners were initially ambivalent about the programme, but were more supportive after 12 months had elapsed. The education provided to general practitioners, nurses, and receptionists was strongly welcomed.


CONCLUSIONS
With carefully designed training and support, general practice can provide high-quality community-based mental healthcare for consumers with enduring mental health disorders, and it can support the introduction of integrated mental health care initiatives.
Island Bay Medical Centre, Wellington.
Helen
H
Rodenburg
Valerie
V
Bos
Cathy
C
O'Malley
Peter
P
McGeorge
Tom
T
Love
Anthony
A
Dowell
D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005194:Family Practice; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D009520:New Zealand; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires