Depot clinic: consumers' viewpoint

Abstract

With the emphasis on ‘care in the community’ there have been moves to provide psychiatric care away from the large psychiatric hospitals, which have resulted in the development of community mental health teams and the expansion of primary care and health centres to cater for people with psychiatric needs. The opinions of patients attending a hospital-based depot neuroleptic clinic are reported. A 17-item questionnaire was designed addressing the functioning of the clinic, including aspects of the medical and nursing care offered and the overall service provided. The majority of patients were in favour of attending this facility and expressed their wish for the service to continue.