A PROJECT has started in Joondalup to break down barriers to psychiatric care.
Local psychiatrist Dr Angelene Chester has assembled a team of senior medical doctors and mental health nurses to provide urgent psychiatric care in Joondalup.
“Over the years, I have met a lot of people who have been adversely affected by delays in accessing appropriate psychiatric care,” Dr Chester said.
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READ NOWReferrals are welcome from anybody: clinical psychologists, school counsellors, practice nurses, midwives, family members, or people can self-refer.
“GP referrals are preferred but for some people this represents a barrier to accessing urgent care,” she said.
From this month, Wellness North Afterhours started a 12-week pilot program providing urgent psychiatric assessment and care. The program hopes to prove its role in reducing demand on public services and emergency departments.
It adds a choice for people wanting to access collaborative psychiatric care in the private sector.
There is no government funding for this project so no rebates will be available.
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