Abstract
The main aim of this pilot study was to identify factors influencing acute psychiatry bed use. The reasons for occupying a bed vary with time, so patients in the study were assessed on a weekly basis to monitor the changes in the factors thought to be responsible for continued stay. The reasons for bed occupancy also are often only known to those professionals directly involved in day to day care of patients, and it is suspected that the reasons often have little to do with manifest psychiatric illness. The reason for this study was to investigate this question.
Highlights
A census of the in-patients occupying acute admission beds in a psychiatric hospital in South London (Springfield Hospital) for three catchment area ser vices was recorded during the ward round each week for ten consecutive weeks by a junior psychiatrist involved in the care of the patient
The retired group show a reduction from 21% to 15% while the housewife group show an increase from 9% to 15%
By week 7 of the study 36% had no psychi atric symptoms and this was roughly maintained iantimthael ednisdtroefstse"n thwiseewkaspe3r0io%d.atWthheenbemgienansiunrg of the study, it reached a peak at week 5 (58%), and gradually declined to 30% by the end of the study
Summary
A census of the in-patients occupying acute admission beds in a psychiatric hospital in South London (Springfield Hospital) for three catchment area ser vices was recorded during the ward round each week for ten consecutive weeks by a junior psychiatrist involved in the care of the patient. Information obtained included: name, hospital number, ad mission date, week of admission, name of consultant in charge, date of birth, sex, marital status, employ ment status, whether first psychiatric or first hospital admission, and whether the patient was formally detained Clinical information was obtained each week concerning psychiatric symptoms, psychiatric management, social network, involved agencies and accommodation, which were recorded in coded form. The disposal was recorded with total number of days in hospital. The patients present at the end of the study were followed up for discharge date and total number of days spent in hospital recorded where possible. (b) Psychiatric: the patient has been admitted because of a known psychiatric diagnosis Alterna tively, he is receiving a recognised psychiatric treat ment in the form of medication, ECT, behaviour
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