Impact of functionalised community mental health teams on in-patient care

Abstract

Aims and method: A before-and-after design was used to evaluate whether the routine implementation of functionalised community mental health teams (CMHTs) would reduce demand for in-patient care. Residents of west Birmingham, aged 16-64 years, who were in hospital between 23 March 1992 and 22 September 1992 were identified.The same period was studied in 2003 by which time the newly introduced teams were well established. Results: The number of people in hospital fell by one-third between 1992 and 2003. There was no change in the number of admissions by each patient or the length of stay. The percentage identified as Black, single, living with other adults, resident in hostels and unemployed increased, as did the proportion with schizophrenia or manic depression and those detained compulsorily. Clinical implications: Functionalised CMHTs can decrease the use of in-patient care in inner-city areas. They may also attenuate, but by no means halt, the rise in compulsory admissions seen across the UK in the past decade.