With the implementation of community care and resettlement programmes, the extent, frequency and the management of emergencies in the mentally handicapped population have attracted a good deal of attention. Among the issues of importance are crisis in the community and unnecessary and repeated hospital admission; inappropriate emergency referrals leading to abuse of services; the need for emergency services and the importance of short term admission facilities (Nolan et al, 1992). While the number of psychiatric emergencies in people with mental handicap is not large, the trend towards living in the community has brought the need to monitor such referrals.