STAFFING AND FUNDING OF CONSULTATION-LIAISON PSYCHIATRY SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW-ZEALAND

The aim of the study was to establish the current and desired levels o f staffing and funding of the 52 consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatry training units in Australian and New Zealand general hospitals. Admin istration of a questionnaire and follow-up verification provided data on referral rates, existing and preferred staffing levels, and staff w orkloads. The referral rates and staffing levels in most cases fall be low those quoted for Europe and the USA, and those considered optimal by the respondents. Th is, together with the large variation in referr al rates and workload, has implications for the type of clinical activ ity conducted and quality of the training experience in different unit s.