PROGRESS AND EVALUATION OF A CONSULTATION-LIAISON PSYCHIATRY SERVICE TO AN OBSTETRIC-GYNECOLOGY HOSPITAL

Objective: Recently we described the establishment and first 6 months of a psychiatric consultation-liaison service to a Melbourne obstetric -gynaecology teaching hospital, The follow-up report evaluates the ser vice in two ways: first, it compares referral data for the 12 months o f 1992 with that of the first 6 months of operation in 1990; and secon d, it reports on results of a survey of referrer and patient satisfact ion with the service. Method: Referral data were collected for the dat a comparison from the consultation-liaison referral book and patients' files, Referrer and patient satisfaction was evaluated by questionnai res sent to 45 medical staff, 7 charge nurses, and 100 consecutive pat ients. Result: A fairly constant referral rate for inpatients has emer ged at 0.8%, this very low referral rate being some cause for concern, An internal shift in the type of referrals over time has developed, w ith an increase in obstetric and a decrease in gynaecology referrals, High referrer satisfaction, with 86% of the doctors finding the consul tation(s) ''very'' or ''quite'' helpful, and high patient satisfaction , with 83% of respondents having found the consultation(s) ''very'' or ''quite'' helpful, was found. Conclusions: Despite high referrer and consumer satisfaction, and objective evidence of need, this pioneering consultation-liaison service in obstetric-gynaecology continues to be grossly under-utilised. Increasing the referral rate will be one of t he greatest challenges in the future of this service.