Introduction
Partnership
Health Canterbury in conjunction with Pegasus Health has introduced the
Mental Health General Practice
Liaison Service. People in this service have significant training in
mental health and come from a variety of disciplines
including social work, nursing and occupational therapy.
Mental Health General Practice
Liaison Role
The
team uses a 'strengths based model' of practice. Interventions are
focused, specific and short term. Some initial
assessment of the situation will be required to determine a treatment
plan in conjunction with the patient and GP.
There are a variety of functions that
can be provided:
• Liaise between primary
and secondary health settings, e.g., community and hospital based
specialist mental
health services.
• Provide general
practice - both doctors and nurses - with a competent referral option
and to assist with referrals to other
appropriate services as required.
• Be available for phone
advice or discussions with general practice.
• To provide a free,
patient focused, evidence based, short term intervention - limited to
five sessions in any 12 months
- for the adult population who experience
mental health difficulties.
• The appointments are
generally an hour and the extended sessions would elicit more
information around issues affecting
the patients mental health enabling the GP I Nurse to
better treat them.
• A pathway to other
community options can be explored.
• Be a resource for
general practice teams regarding mental health issues.
Note:
• The service is free.
• It is not a crisis
intervention service.
• Our strengths lie psychiatric
assessment and in the treatment of patients suffering from anxiety and
depression.
This is not a counselling service.
• Doctors and Nurses only,
within general practice, can refer to the PMHT.
• All consultations will ideally
take place in the general practice rooms.
• At all times the clinical
responsibility for the patient remains with the GP.
Referral Criteria
Patients will be accepted if they:
• Have an identified mental
health problem • Have no immediate safety or risk concerns
• The patient is aware, and
agreeable, to the referral and consents to the PMHT accessing
their medical records for their
mental health needs • Are motivated to attend the sessions
• Would benefit from a short
term treatment option of up to five sessions in a 12 month
period with a mental health team
member.
Exclusion Criteria:
• Active Psychiatric
Crisis • Current safety concerns
The Referral Process
At
present we only accept referrals from GPs and Practice Nurses . Your referring GP or Practice Nurse you will
be kept informed of your progress, or if you leave the service
prematurely. Clinical notes will be retained in your patient record. We
will discuss with you if a referral to a community agency or specialist
mental health service appears indicated.
alisbury Health Centre