PROVIDING A COMMUNITY PSYCHOGERIATRIC SERVICE - MODELS OF COMMUNITY PSYCHIATRIC NURSING PROVISION IN A SINGLE HEALTH DISTRICT

This study describes the provision of community psychiatric nurses (CPNs) within a single health authority. Nottingham has four specialist psychogeriatric teams. We found wide variation in the caseload per CPN from 25 to 70 per WTE. There was less variation in the casemix of the various CPN teams. The degree of specialist activity provided by individual CPNs within teams varied. The degree of supervision varied from formal weekly 2-hour sessions to informal ad hoc sessions only. The various models of providing CPN services have important resource implications. The full implementation of the 1990 NHS and Community Care Act on April 1, 1993 has significant consequences for community care. It is therefore important to determine the most effective and efficient models of care.