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Availability and acceptability of home treatment for acute psychiatric disorders

A national survey of mental health trusts and health authority purchasers

South Warwickshire Combined Care NHS Trust, St Michael's Hospital, St Michael's Road, Warwick CV34 5QW

S. P. Sashidharan, Professor of Community Psychiatry

Academic Unit, Northern Birmingham Mental Health Trust, 71 Fentham Road, Erdington, Birmingham B23 6AL

Lyse J. Edwards, Research Associate

Academic Unit, Northern Birmingham Mental Health Trust, 71 Fentham Road, Erdington, Birmingham B23 6AL

AIMS AND METHODS

To ascertain current levels of access to home treatment for those with acute mental illness and future plans of trusts and purchasing authorities to provide such services. Also, to assess the attitudes of these organisations towards this form of treatment. A postal survey of all mental health trusts and purchasing authorities within the UK was carried out.

RESULTS

One hundred and seventy-two trusts and 82 health authorities returned questionnaires, representing a response rate of 75% and 67% respectively. Only 27 (16%) of trusts provided home treatment but 58 (40%) had plans to do so. All health authorities and 97% of trusts were in favour of the principle of providing home treatment.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Despite the low levels of provision of home treatment trusts and health authorities were strongly in favour of it. There is likely to be a large increase in its availability over the next 12 months.

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