Abstract
Aims and MethodTo examine knowledge among Scottish psychiatrists of the 1996 guidance on National Health Service (NHS) responsibility for continuing healthcare, a postal questionnaire was devised and sent to the 132 consultants and specialist registrars in the South-East Scotland Deanery in May 2007.ResultsTwo-thirds of the clinicians (67%, n= 88) responded, 88% of whom had in-patient responsibilities. Only 24% responded positively to an awareness of the current Scottish guidance. There was a strong association between awareness of the guidance and psychiatric speciality, and greater awareness among clinicians with previous experience of a relevant complaint or appeal.Clinical ImplicationsUncertainty about NHS continuing healthcare guidance among practising psychiatrists suggests a need for increased awareness of the issues, with training implications for the new guidance on NHS continuing healthcare in Scotland which became effective in February 2008.
Highlights
Uncertainty about National Health Service (NHS) continuing healthcare guidance among practising psychiatrists suggests a need for increased awareness of the issues, with training implications for the new guidance on NHS continuing healthcare in Scotland which became effective in February 2008
In 1996 the Scottish Office Department of Health issued a circular (NHS MEL (1996) 22, referred to here as MEL 22), entitled NHS Responsibility for Continuing Health Care, that set out the responsibilities of the NHS both to take decisions about discharge of patients from hospital care and to secure NHS continuing care where required.[1]
The results may be skewed by the greater response rate from the POA/LD/Rehab group, and to a lesser extent by the slightly higher response rate from the consultants, any response bias from this would probably overestimate the levels of knowledge among psychiatrists overall
Summary
To examine knowledge among Scottish psychiatrists of the 1996 guidance on National Health Service (NHS) responsibility for continuing healthcare, a postal questionnaire was devised and sent to the 132 consultants and specialist registrars in the South-East Scotland Deanery in May 2007
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