Abstract
Aims and MethodA survey of UK consultants in rehabilitation psychiatry was carried out to investigate current service provision and changes over the past 3 years.ResultsMost services had undergone multiple changes, with an overall reduction in over half and an overall expansion in a minority. the proportion with low secure provision had doubled. Around a third reported reinvestment of rehabilitation resources into other specialist in-patient and community services.Clinical ImplicationsRehabilitation services are undergoing rapid change with diversion of resources into services that may lack rehabilitation expertise. This risks an increase in independent sector referrals for in-patient rehabilitation for those with complex needs. Expansion of community services should be balanced against the need for local in-patient rehabilitation services.
Highlights
There were 263 assertive outreach teams employing around 3000 staff, 168 crisis resolution teams employing around 2000 staff and 41 early intervention services employing 174 staff.[2]. Most of these staff moved from existing mental health services into the new teams. These services have succeeded in reducing reliance on in-patient services overall,[3] English assertive outreach services were not shown to be effective in this regard[4] and a proportion of users of these and other community mental health services still require lengthy hospital admission.[5]
Responses were collated by the Chair of the regional representatives (D.M.) and summarised according to the main changes to services reported and whether any service reconfiguration had resulted in an overall service reduction, expansion or both
Our data is incomplete since the majority of regional representatives responded, some had been unable to contact some consultants within their region
Summary
Most services had undergone multiple changes, with an overall reduction in over half and an overall expansion in a minority. There were 263 assertive outreach teams employing around 3000 staff, 168 crisis resolution teams employing around 2000 staff and 41 early intervention services employing 174 staff.[2] Most of these staff moved from existing mental health services into the new teams. These services have succeeded in reducing reliance on in-patient services overall,[3] English assertive outreach services were not shown to be effective in this regard[4] and a proportion of users of these and other community mental health services still require lengthy hospital admission.[5]. In order to investigate these reports further, the Faculty carried out a survey of its members across the UK, coordinated by its regional representatives
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