Attitudes of inner-city GPs to shared care for psychiatric patients in thecommunity

The role of the general practitioner (GP) in shared care is critical. This study sought to investigate the views of inner-city GPs and compare them wi th those of previously surveyed GPs working in a predominantly suburban reg ion.(1) Sixty-five GPs working in inner London were surveyed using a 15-ite m self-report questionnaire to ascertain attitudes towards care of patients with serious mental illness (SMI). Inner-city GPs reported having more SMI patients on their practice lists than the mainly suburban GPs, Though shar ed care was favoured by the majority in both studies, this was significantl y less common among inner-city GPs who were also less inclined to organize overall care. These findings could not be explained by methodological diffe rences. The attitudes of inner-city GPs towards the care of the mentally il l appear to differ from their suburban colleagues; their needs clearly meri t special consideration.