Advances in Psychiatric Treatment (2008) 14: 84-85. doi: 10.1192/apt.bp.107.004218
© 2008 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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It’s time to talk: rekindling the relationship with primary care{dagger}

Roger Banks and Linda Gask

Roger Banks is current Vice-President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 17 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PG, UK. Email: rbanks{at}rcpsych.ac.uk) and Consultant in the Psychiatry of Learning Disability with Conwy and Denbighshire NHS Trust. He is also Honorary Senior Lecturer at the College of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Bangor University. Linda Gask is Professor of Primary Care Psychiatry at the University of Manchester and Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist with Salford Primary Care Trust and Bolton, Salford and Trafford Mental Health Trust.

Abstract

Healthcare provision in the UK is in a process of continual change. The structures and processes by which people with mental health problems and people with learning disabilities receive support from statutory services have been, and continue to be, subject to many and varied strategic, policy and professional influences. Integrated and collaborative ways of working between generalist (‘primary’) and specialist (‘secondary’) care have become eroded over time and yet they may be needed more than ever. In this editorial we encourage a collaborative approach between practitioners in generalist and specialist care in studying and developing three strands of work: policy and strategy; training; and professional behaviour. Above all, we advocate strongly for a renewed and dynamic dialogue between psychiatrists and general practitioners in working together to provide high-quality mental healthcare.


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