A comparison of a community mental health centre-based psychiatric service with one based in an outpatient department at the same hospital
Singh, M.B.; Puri, B.K.
International Journal of Clinical Practice 52(2): 89-90
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 1368-5031 PMID: 9624788 Document Number: 486931
Referrals and response to referrals of two psychiatric services with similar catchment areas of the same hospital, one with a Community Mental Health Care (CMHC) centre and the other based at an outpatient department, were compared over a five-month period. While the service with a CMHC had an increased number of referrals, which may reflect the aims of the CMHC of making mental health services more accessible and less stigmatised, most referrals were from general practitioners and therefore likely to be appropriate. In spite of its increased workload, the time from referral to assessment for the CMHC-based service was significantly shorter than for the outpatient-based service.