A survey of the psychiatric care provided for children and young people in general hospital settings in New Zealand

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to conduct an in-depth survey of psychiatric care provided for children and young people (CYP) in general hospital settings in New Zealand (NZ).

Method

As part of a larger national survey of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (CLP) services across the lifespan, a 44-question survey was emailed to clinicians who were involved in providing psychiatric care for CYP at each of the 24 public general hospitals with specialist paediatric services.

Results

Responses were obtained from all four paediatric CLP teams that cover the four specialist children’s hospitals, and 16 of the 23 child and adolescent community mental health services that provide hospital inreach. These services were found to be under-resourced, utilise variable service models, and rely heavily on inreach.

Conclusion

Escalating presentation rates for young people and increasingly complex paediatric presentations pose major challenges for the psychiatric care of CYP in general hospital settings. Utilising international staffing standards and service models, proposals are made to evolve more consistent and effective paediatric CLP services in NZ.