It is hoped that seeing their doctor three times a year will prevent the mentally ill from being readmitted to Mount Carmel.Patients with mental health problems who have been stable for a year will be able to visit their family doctor up to three times a year, in a new scheme funded by the government.
Health Minister Chris Fearne said such patients were currently only scheduled for an appointment with their psychiatrist once a year. However, in the interim period, their condition would sometimes deteriorate, leading to hospitalisation.
“Through this scheme, private GPs would be able to examine the patients up to three times a year from their clinic and detect those who are about to suffer a relapse and therefore prevent them from being admitted to Mount Carmel Hospital,” Mr Fearne said.
In the coming days, an expression of interest for private practitioners who wish to form part of the scheme will be launched. The doctors will be requested to undergo training with the psychiatric department to brush up on their knowledge and be briefed on how the system will work.
Mental health services chairman Anton Grech said the scheme would target patients suffering from psychosis, bipolar disorder and recurrent unipolar depression. Thousands of such stable patients were expected to benefit from the scheme.
“If a patient suffers one episode, treatment is recommended for a year. However, if there is a second episode, treatment is recommended for life, because, unfortunately, the risk of relapse stands at 80 per cent.
“Such monitoring includes assessing the patients’ mental condition. The patients are also taking medication and require regular blood tests,” Dr Grech said.
He stressed the importance of establishing direct contact between GPs and psychiatrists. A system would be set up allowing family doctors full access to their patients’ health records.
This will, in turn, be accompanied by a mechanism enabling doctors to have fast access to psychiatrists in case they detect a deterioration in a patient’s condition, he said.