Newly appointed psychiatrists ‘lack services to do job’

NEWLY appointed psychiatrists have no option but to prescribe drugs for their patients because they lack the basic services they need to do their job properly, a conference heard yesterday.

A survey of 89 newly appointed consultants found that 40% still lacked a junior hospital doctor, community mental health nurse, secretary or office a year after taking up their jobs.

Just 18% were able to refer a patient to a social worker, psychologist or occupational therapist.