In 2023, the Canberra Health Services (CHS) Department of Bariatric Medicine (DBM) incorporated a psychiatry clinic into its model of care. The clinic offers specialist-level psychiatry support for patients with class III obesity. The clinic is available to those who meet eligibility criteria and who not already known to public or private psychiatry services (1).
A CHS-approved survey was adapted for use for by the DBM to obtain patient perspectives regarding access to, and quality of, the psychiatry clinic. Surveys were sent via email to patients who attended the psychiatry clinic from 2023-2024 (those with valid email addresses). Responses were collated and de-identified by the CHS Patient Experience team.
Eleven of 41 surveys were returned (response rate 27%). Most respondents (n=10, 91%) described always feeling welcome and safe, and usually or always respected. Ten (91%) noted that staff showed hope about their future. Seven (64%) believed they had access to a psychiatrist when needed whereas 4 (37%) said access was usual or sometimes. Ten respondents (91%) reported that the psychiatry clinic had a good, very good or excellent impact on their overall well-being.
Common themes emerged including the psychological aspects of obesity. Access to a psychologist as part of the psychiatry clinic was one suggested improvement due to the cost of external psychology services. Several patients commented on non-psychiatry aspects of DBM which were outside the scope of the survey.
Whilst the low response rate makes it difficult to interpret the findings, it appears that the DBM psychiatry clinic was generally well accepted and helped with overall well-being. In future, patients may benefit from clearer explanations regarding access to the clinic. Embedding a psychologist within the DBM psychiatry clinic could streamline care and address costs concerns.