Home hospitalisation, an alternative to inpatient care in mental health
It is very common for mental disorders to require admission to a care facility. In Spain, this implies a loss of freedom, as patients usually stay in secure units or are subject to restrictions on their movements. The home hospitalisation units have played a crucial role during the pandemic. Some medical specialisations such as internal medicine or primary care have been able to meet this need. However, this situation has also put the spotlight on the shortage of resources available for the home hospitalisation of people with serious mental disorders.
The present circumstances have rendered it necessary to start activities in a rush and, in some cases, to commence projects that had been on the agenda for some time. The Catalan Health Care Institute’s Mental Health and Addictions Network started working several years ago to take this model to the whole of Catalonia. They also have a home hospitalisation team.
Dr. Alexandra Noguero and Dr. Santiago Peregalli have published an article on this subject in the University of Barcelona’s Journal of Bioethics and Law under the title “Alternatives to inpatient care in mental health: home hospitalisation from the Spanish and Anglo-Saxon viewpoints”. This study reviews the features of inpatient care in mental health and the Spanish legislation on the subject and analyses the Anglo-Saxon model of home hospitalisation.
