[A modern community psychiatric service in the Orange Free State]

The number of patients with psychiatric syndromes in the community may be as high as 15% at any time. The concept of institutionalisation has gradually changed to the concept of community psychiatry. The main aim of community psychiatric service is to treat the patient in the community. Such a service should be within reach of all the patients in the community. A psychiatric community service has been developed in the Orange Free State over the past 2 years. This has resulted in a reduction of 48% in the chemotherapy budget. Comparing the results with a similar study in Stockholm the reduction of 19% in neuroclinic admissions in Oranje Hospital compares favourably with the 22% reduction in Stockholm. The increase of 90% in the outpatient numbers for the Orange Free State is below the 170% increase reported for Stockholm. A further increase can be expected within the next few years in the Orange Free State.