The relationship between mental health services and primary care services in the UK: a postal survey

A postal survey of all mental health services and primary care services in the UK was conducted in order to determine the current relationship between the two services and provide a baseline against which future changes can be measured. Specialist mental health services were still predominantly based in the hospital out-patients department. Despite numerous problems being identified approximately two-thirds of each service were satisfied with the overall present collaboration. Mental health services that had a named lead person for liaising with primary care reported statistically significant greater satisfaction with the relationship with primary care than those that did not have such a lead person (75 versus 50%) (P = 0.02). Similarly, those mental health services that had adopted the policy of having single, identified mental health professionals working in primary care reported greater satisfaction compared to those that did not have this arrangement (91 versus 54%) (P = 0.038). These findings could be useful pointers for future service developments.