Telepsychiatry: an island pilot project

A telemedicine link was established in 1996 between the island of Inishmore and the department of psychiatry in University College Hospital, Galway. The link was mainly used to facilitate emergency consultations between patients on the island and the duty psychiatrist, always at the request of the island's general practitioner. Nine patients were referred for assessment in this manner over eight months. Three patients had their first psychiatric contact and assessment through the video-link, and were followed up as outpatients via the link to eventual resolution of the episode of illness and discharge at the outpatient clinic. Our experience has been that videoconferencing systems are acceptable and satisfactory for patients and staff alike.