Mental health nurses improve access
Incorporating mental health nurses into general practice can lead to better outcomes for patients and GPs, but a shortage of these specialist nurses could make it difficult to expand the program, a pilot scheme has found.
A four-year program, which involved mental health nurses working with GPs and private psychiatrists in five states, was found to have “significantly improved” access to appropriate mental health services, a report has revealed (link).
More than 40,500 people received a service through the $191.6m Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program (MHNIP) from 2007-2011, in a range of areas which ranged from one nurse supporting one practice to seven nurses supporting 29 practices, according to the recently released report.
The authors say the program led to earlier intervention, shorter admissions and better follow-up with patients receiving mental health services in “convenient and non-stigmatising settings”.
GPs said they felt better supported in their work with mentally ill patients and said their knowledge and confidence had improved.
Out of the 57 patients who were surveyed, 80% reported improvements in their mental health and almost half reported improvements in their social relationships.
The government has since announced it will allocate a further $13m over two years to employ an additional 136 mental health nurses.
But the limited availability of ‘credentialed’ nurses, particularly in rural areas, could make it difficult for the program to expand, the authors say.
The funding which was based around a fixed payment per half day session was also found to be a deterrent, as it did not allow for any additional costs including computers or professional development and for the extra time needed to get around rural areas.
Now here is an interesting tale! I'm told that the Southern Highlands still has only one Credentialed Mental Health Nurse who provides this service. Other's have tried to enter the SH area to also provide the service but have not been supported by .... you guessed it !... the CEO of the Southern Highlands Division of General Practice..... who suggests it may be due instead to the others not being able to market themselves to the GPs. I guess it does not help if the CEO informs the GPs who are interested that they would be more open to being audited and other bits of misinformation guaranteed to turn off even the most ardent advocate for the program. The fact remains that since the failure of their own staff member in achieving credentialed mental health nurse status, the Southern Highlands Division of General Practice has taken their bat and ball and left the MHNIP field of play.
