A cost‐effective service provision model also meets the educational and training needs of higher trainees in psychiatry

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe how an adult liaison psychiatry service was established at a hospital introducing the special interest service provision model, which is a cost‐effective method of developing new services.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes a step‐by‐step process of setting up a new service. Nearly, 20 months after its introduction, the new service was evaluated using a retrospective survey design that involved reviewing the patient referral forms. The authors looked at the demographical data, reasons for referral and the outcome of assessment for patient assessed by this service.

Findings

Results revealed that the majority of the referrals (51 per cent, n=136) were from the medical ward, 56 per cent of the psychiatric assessments were done within 24 hours of the referral, 37 per cent of the assessed patients were provisionally diagnosed with a depressive episode and 24 per cent with substance misuse.

Originality/value

The paper describes a new model of service provision. From the above findings it can be extrapolated that this model of service provision is generalisable and can be replicated anywhere in the UK. This paper would interest clinicians and individuals interested in service development and improving patient care.

Citation

Abbasi, Y., Broadhurst, M., Johnston, A. and Vishwanath, S. (2011), "A cost‐effective service provision model also meets the educational and training needs of higher trainees in psychiatry", The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, Vol. 6 No. 3, pp. 150-158. https://doi.org/10.1108/17556221111171757