Staffing and Funding of Consultationliaison Psychiatry Services in Australia and New Zealand

Abstract

The aim of the study was to establish the current and desired levels of staffing and funding of the 52 consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatry training units in Australian and New Zealand general hospitals. Administration of a questionnaire and follow-up verification provided data on referral rates, existing and preferred staffing levels, and staff workloads. The referral rates and staffing levels in most cases fall below those quoted for Europe and the USA, and those considered optimal by the respondents. This, together with the large variation in referral rates and workload, has implications for the type of clinical activity conducted and quality of the training experience in different units.