[Emergency psychiatric departments are not refusing admissions]

The staff at the psychiatric emergency out-patient clinic in Oslo evaluated the services of the acute psychiatric wards when admitting patients to the hospital. Of 93 admittances during three months in 1998, the referring doctor was satisfied with the hospital's response in 84% of the cases. The mean time from contact was taken with the hospital till the admittance was accepted was 19 minutes. The admittance of patients in acute psychiatric hospitals in Oslo is straightforward, and reasonably well organized.