PSYCHIATRIC
REFERRALS
IMPORTANT
- Regardless of presentation, doctors are required at the least to make a
determination if there is a organic or functional cause for the patient's symptoms, any
co-existing acute medical problems and if detention is required (if not done already) [see
Psychiatric
Assessment]
- Patients wishing to leave before being seen need some form of assessment
of competency and safety before being allowed to do so
- The Emergency Department DOES NOT accept transfers from other psychiatric facilities,
emergency departments or hospitals (see Transferring
psychiatric patients)
Disturbed patients can present to the ED in several ways:
- Patients brought in by police under
Section 23
See Procedure for 'Section 23' patients
- Patients detained in community and brought
in by police or ambulance
- Arrangements can be made with ACIS for the patient to be admitted to a psychiatric
facility
- ACIS will arrange a bed and for either a psychiatrist to see the patient in the ED or
upon transfer to a psychiatric ward
- These patient will require review by a psychiatrist within (not at) 24 hours or when
practicable
- Non-detained patients referred by ACIS
- Generally no further psychiatric evaluation is required by the ED doctor but he will
need to exclude organic causes for the abnormality and co-existing acute medical illness
- Following this, ACIS should be contacted to determine the ongoing management plan e.g.
detention, further assessment by psychiatric registrar, admission to bed
This includes
- Patients who self-present or are brought in by friends/relatives
- Patients apprehended by the police but NOT brought in under Section 23
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