Mental health rehabilitation services in the UK in 2007

AIMS AND METHOD A survey of UK consultants in rehabilitation psychiatry was carried out to investigate current service provision and changes over the past 3 years. RESULTS: Most services had undergone multiple changes, with an overall reduction in over half and an overall expansion in a minority. The proportion with low secure provision had doubled. Around a third reported reinvestment of rehabilitation resources into other specialist in-patient and community services. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Rehabilitation services are undergoing rapid change with diversion of resources into services that may lack rehabilitation expertise. This risks an increase in independent sector referrals for in-patient rehabilitation for those with complex needs. Expansion of community services should be balanced against the need for local in-patient rehabilitation services.