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The Nottingham Acute Bed Study: Alternatives to acute psychiatric care

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

A. Beck ,
T. J. Croudace ,
S. Singh  and
G. Harrison
A. Beck*
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham
T. J. Croudace
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham
S. Singh
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham
G. Harrison
Affiliation:
Academic Department of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham
*
Dr T. Croudace, Academic Department of Psychiatry, University of Nottingham, Professorial Unit, Duncan Macmillan House, Porchester Road, Nottingham NG3 6AA
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Abstract

Background

Although modern psychiatric services seek alternatives to hospitalisation wherever appropriate, the national trend toward higher bed occupancies on acute psychiatric wards has refocused attention on community-based alternatives and methods of assessing reed for acute care.

Method

We surveyed key decision makers in a community-oriented district service with a low acute psychiatric bed to population ratio, in order to examine alternatives to hospitalisation in a cohort of consecutive admissions over a six-month period.

Results

Alternatives to acute ward hospitalisation were identified for 29% of admissions, and for 42% of those with an admission duration of more than 60 days. Residential options were chosen more often than intensive community support. Simulated bed day savings were considerable.

Conclusions

In a community-oriented service, key decision-makers could identify further alternatives to acute ward hospitalisation, although relatively few non-residential, community support options were chosen. Although this methodology has limitations, data based upon keyworker judgements probably have greater local ‘ownership’, and the option appraisal process itself may challenge stereotyped patterns of resource use.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 170 , Issue 3 , March 1997 , pp. 247 - 252
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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