DOCTORS AND NURSES - REFERRALS BY GENERAL-PRACTITIONERS TO DIFFERENT ARMS OF AN OLD-AGE PSYCHIATRY SERVICE

General practitioners' referrals to the medical and nursing arms of an old age psychiatry service over a 6-month period were examined retros pectively. Doctors were referred patients with a past psychiatric hist ory who had been known to the service, did not live alone and in whom first-line treatments had failed. The nursing team were asked to carry out specific therapies by the GPs. There were no differences in suppo rt, diagnosis or medication between the groups. The need for multidisc iplinary input to all referrals to services is stressed.