Evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of physical health interventions to mental health consumers within Sydney Local Health District

Other resource • Andy Simpson

Abstract

Author(s)

Andrew Simpson, Lisa Parcsi, Andrew McDonald

Introduction

People living with severe mental illness experience disproportionately high rates of morbidity and mortality compared with the general population. Sydney Local Health District introduced the Living Well, Living Longer program in 2013 to address this inequity. The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the provision of routine health services. This report evaluates the impact of the pandemic on the provision of physical health interventions to mental health consumers in Sydney Local Health District.

Method

Rates of COVID-19 vaccinations to consumers within Sydney Local Health District community mental health services were collated. Routinely collected service data was reviewed for changes in rates of metabolic monitoring, mental health shared care, physical health checks with general practitioners, cardiometabolic health clinic assessments, and diet and exercise interventions. A period from April 2019 to April 2022 was selected which enabled a comparison for 12 months pre-pandemic with 2 years peri-pandemic.

Results & Findings

91.9% of consumers received at least two COVID-19 vaccinations and 61.3% received a booster. However there was a 37.3% reduction in rates of metabolic monitoring, 20.1% reduction in Mental Health Shared Care agreements, 60.6% reduction in physical health checks, 55.1% reduction in cardiometabolic clinic assessments, and 19.8% reduction of diet and exercise interventions. Up-to-date data will be presented at the symposium to see if any signs of recovery are emerging.

Discussion

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a whole of health system response to protect the community, but the requisite reallocation of resources came at a cost to routine service provision. The high rates of vaccinations achieved with mental health consumers in Sydney Local Health District should be commended, but there was a significant reduction in all other physical health interventions. A renewed focus is now required to increase physical health screening & intervention to minimise the potential impact of the pandemic on cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality in this population.