Objective: The aim of this study was to describe and evaluate a service that provides a single point-of-entry for general practitioners (GPs) wishing to refer their patients for one-off psychiatric consultations, using a new Medicare Item, number 291.
Method: Statistics of all referrals made through a single access point used by GPs for referral to psychiatrists were collated, as well as data regarding psychiatrists' provision of appointments. GPs using the service were surveyed after 28 months of operation.
Results: Both GP and psychiatrist user groups were predominantly positive about their experience of a system that provided ease of access for GPs and appropriate use of psychiatric expertise. Use of the service rose from six referrals per week to 10 per week during the survey period. Fifty-five percent of psychiatrists who joined the service continued to provide appointments on a regular basis.
Conclusion: A single access point for GPs to access patient appointments to private psychiatric consultants is a simple and acceptable mode of increasing access for many patients to expert assessment and management plans.