Service innovations: Sherbrook partial hospitalisation unit

Aims and Method Nationally, a variety of community care projects are being developed to replace institution-based care. We describe an innovative system of providing mental health care in Southport, combining an extended day service with short-term hospital admission – the partial hospitalisation philosophy. Results During the first year of operation 438 assessments took place with 27% of patients being admitted to a crisis bed and a further 25% supported via attendance at the unit.Twelve per cent needed in-patient admission and 10% were deemed not to require any involvement of the mental health service. Clinical Implications The use of short-stay admission coupled with extended day care and crisis line support can provide a viable alternative to admission to the acute ward.