GPs' views on prioritisation of child and adolescent mental health problems

Abstract

The demand for child and adolescent psychiatric services outstrips the supply of resources, leaving a large unmet demand. One way of managing this is to prioritise referrals. A sample of Norfolk general practitioners were interviewed face to face. They were asked to prioritise child and adolescent mental health problems that might present to them in the surgery. A high response rate was obtained. Anxiety provoking problems were considered to be of the highest priority. Service provision and prioritisation should take cognisance of the wishes of referrers themselves. Mental health care training priorities in general practice include substance misuse and psychiatric emergencies.