Suicidal patients sent to A

GPs are being forced to send suicidal patients to A&E units because of problems arranging urgent psychiatric reviews due to a labour shortage, new research has found.

In a study to identify the educational needs of GPs in the area of suicide and its prevention, doctors listed the practicalities of securing an urgent review by a consultant as a difficulty when caring for patients at risk of suicide.

Co-author of the study Dr Conor Geaney said the time taken to secure an urgent review within an over- stretched psychiatric service, could often vary from three to four days. This left GPs with no option but to send suicidal patients to A&E, he said.