Months of May: Mental health presentations and the impact of a psychiatric emergency care centre on an inner‐city emergency department

Abstract

Objectives: The impact of psychiatric emergency care centres (PECCs) on ED mental health (MH) presentations has not been presented. We aim to compare demographics, diagnosis and admission frequency of patients presenting to an inner-city ED with MH complaints, before and for several years after the opening of a PECC. Methods: We collected ED patient data for the first 200 'mental health' presentations during the month of

Wait times in an Australian emergency department: A comparison of mental health and non‐mental health patients in a regional emergency department

“…The implementation of the MHLN role has been found to facilitate timely access to mental health expertise and reduce ED waiting times (Brown 2007;Clarke et al 2005;Wand 2004;Wand et al 2021;Woo et al 2007). The establishment of PECCs has also facilitated the reduction of ED waiting times for patients staying longer than 24 hours (Huber et al, 2021). Due to the lack of regional and rural ED mental health services, mental health patients residing in these areas are less supported (ACEM 2018b; Productivity Commission 2020) and potentially exposed to noisy and crowded EDs (Bureau of Health Information [BHI], 2019).…”

“…2005; Huber et al . 2021; JA Projects 2012; Seymour, 2018). The primary role of the ED MHLN’s was to provide early access to mental health expertise and facilitate the patient’s journey through the ED (Wand 2004).…”

“…As the demand for ED services both globally and in Australia continues to grow, and the dire effects of access block for mental health patients receive increased media attention, peak national bodies have had a resurgence of interest in quantifying the problem and exploring potential solutions (AIHW 2019;Duggan et al 2020;Zeitz & Watson 2018). State and Federal strategies designed to mitigate access block have been implemented at both the ED and hospital levels (Broadbent et al 2010;Forero et al 2011;Huber et al 2021;Seymour, 2018;Wand 2004). Key mental health initiatives introduced by the NSW government include the establishment of Mental Health Liaison Nurses (MHLN) in ED's in 2000 (Wand 2004) and Psychiatric Emergency Care Centres (PECCs) in 2005 (Frank et al 2005;Huber et al 2021;JA Projects 2012;Seymour, 2018).…”

“…State and Federal strategies designed to mitigate access block have been implemented at both the ED and hospital levels (Broadbent et al 2010;Forero et al 2011;Huber et al 2021;Seymour, 2018;Wand 2004). Key mental health initiatives introduced by the NSW government include the establishment of Mental Health Liaison Nurses (MHLN) in ED's in 2000 (Wand 2004) and Psychiatric Emergency Care Centres (PECCs) in 2005 (Frank et al 2005;Huber et al 2021;JA Projects 2012;Seymour, 2018). The primary role of the ED MHLN's was to provide early access to mental health expertise and facilitate the patient's journey through the ED (Wand 2004).…”

“…2011; Huber et al . 2021; Seymour, 2018; Wand 2004). Key mental health initiatives introduced by the NSW government include the establishment of Mental Health Liaison Nurses (MHLN) in ED’s in 2000 (Wand 2004) and Psychiatric Emergency Care Centres (PECCs) in 2005 (Frank et al .…”