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Original papers: Enone Welthagen, Sarah Talbot, Oliver Harrison, and Michael Phelan Providing a primary care service for psychiatric in-patients Psychiatr Bull 2004; 28: 167-170 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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Primary Care for Psychiatric In-patients

Laura J Fisher, Robert D. Goldney   (22 July 2004)

Primary Care for Psychiatric In-patients 22 July 2004
Laura J Fisher, Research Officer University of Adelaide & Ramsay Health Care, Robert D. Goldney Send letter to journal: Re: Primary Care for Psychiatric In-patients fisherl{at}ramsayhealth.com.au Laura J Fisher, et al.	The article by Welthagen et al (2004) regarding the provision of a primary care service for psychiatric in-patients was a useful reminder of the importance of addressing physical issues in persons with mental disorders. In Australia this has been addressed by the Australian Council of Health Care Standards (ACHS), in conjunction with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, who have developed a number of clinical indicators for use in psychiatric Hospitals (ACHS, 2003). These include the assessment of whether or not a patient has had a physical examination within 48 hours of admission. At The Adelaide Clinic, a 64 bed private psychiatric hospital, a nearby group of general practitioners provides a five days a week primary care service at the hospital. In 1997-98 there was compliance with the Clinical Indicator for physical examination within 48 hours of admission in 80% of admissions (Goldney et al, 1998), and this has risen over the last year to 95%. The ACHS provides data for 63 hospitals (both public and private) Australia-wide and the current overall compliance figure for this clinical indicator is 84%. We note that the service reported by Welthagen et al provided assessment of 22% of patients after a median time of 22 days. Although their service is a step in the right direction, we believe it falls far short of an ideal assessment of the physical status of those with mental disorders. AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF HEALTHCARE STANDARDS (2003) Clinical Indicator Users’ Manual 2004: Mental Health Indicators Version 4. Sydney: ACHS. GOLDNEY, R., FISHER, L., WALMSLEY, S. (1998) Quality improvement by use of Clinical Indicators in a psychiatric hospital. Australasian Psychiatry, 6, 191-193. WELTHAGEN E., TALBERT S., HARRISON O., PHELAN M. (2004) Providing a Primary Care Service for Psychiatric In-patients. Psychiatric Bulletin, 28, 167-170. *Laura Fisher, Research Officer, The Adelaide Clinic, Ramsay Health Care Mental Health Services South Australia, 33 Park Tce, Gilberton, South Australia, 5081. Robert Goldney, Professor, The University of Adelaide, Psychiatry Department, The Adelaide Clinic, 33 Park Tce, Gilberton, South Australia, 5081.