The development of an assessment clinic (ASPA) in South Essex Partnership Trust. Observations and outcomes in the period December 2011-April 2013

A new Assessment service (ASPA) which has been developed in Bedford within the Community Psychiatric Team has been described. Demography of patients referred to the service as well as their diagnoses are explained. Outcomes of treatment in this assessment service are also assessed. The most common diagnoses were mood disorders. These were generally equally divided between patients with unipolar and bipolar disorder. The next most common diagnosis was obsessive compulsive disorder. Within the period, approximately one third of patients were referred back to primary care, one third were still in the assessment process, and one third had been admitted to secondary care community services.