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Distribution of case-load in community mental health teams

Department of Public Mental Health, Imperial College School of Medicine, Paterson Centre, London W2 1PD

David Gulbrandsen, Technical Projects Manager

Brent, Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Mental Health NHS Trust, 30 Eastbourne Terrace, London W2

See editorial, pp. 1-2, this issue.

AIMS AND METHOD

An audit project was carried out in a mental health trust in North-West London on two successive years to determine the average case-load size of defined severe mental illness for each professional discipline.

RESULTS

The average case-load for non-consultants varied from 16 (for occupational therapists) through to 98 patients (for senior house officers). Community psychiatric nurses had an average case-load of 21 and consultants had an estimated average case-load of between 185 and 317 patients. The proportion of patients with severe mental illness ranged from 49% to 67%.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The case-loads of consultants in community health teams are too large to exercise the statutory duties of a responsible medical officer and, therefore, need revision.

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