In-Patient Treatment: Should It Become a Last Resort?

?)fss seerns to carry a danger of 1(jentifying "hospital" with institutionalisrn and "community care" with lightened methods of social therapy ^although this may not in fact be situation as experienced by the Patient and his relatives. While it must certainly be hoped that the current impetus towards outPatient treatment and care will lead to expansion of existing services and ^eir extension to all areas; it would ^em mistaken if, in our enthusiasm tor day hospitals, day centres, social cjubs and domiciliary visiting, we should come to think of in-patient treatment only as a safety measure tor violent illness or as a last resort ^hen other methods have failed.