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Mental Health
Act changes could 'treble' psychiatrists' workload
February
16, 2003 - Source:
http://www.hospital-doctor.net
Changes
to the Mental Health Act could increase the workload of some psychiatrists
by more than 200 per cent, according to research.
A
review of the proposed Mental Health Bill has shown the legislation
would part-icularly affect psychiatrists giving second opinions
on decisions about care.
In
a study at The Oxford Clinic, a medium-secure forensic psychiatric
unit, it was shown that, under the planned changes, the work of
'independent doctors' increased by 207 per cent.
These
independent doctors will have similar roles to that of the current
second-opinion approved doctors, and will be approached by the new
mental health tribunals over decisions concerning patient care.
The
responsible consultant's work might increase by 15 per cent, according
to Oxford Clinic head Dr Clive Meux and researcher Dr Sean Whyte,
an SpR in psychiatry at the West London Mental Health NHS Trust.
Hospital
Doctor reported last year the concerns of the profession that the
Mental Health Bill had too broad a definition of mental illness.
The
report's authors say under the revised legislation the hours of
care teams would increase by 30 per cent
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