Clinical update on public and private psychiatric practice shared-care partnerships – Can the twain work together?

Objective: We explore the previous research and current context regarding opportunities for shared-care partnerships between public and private psychiatric practice. Conclusions: Since the early 2000s, when there was impetus for the development of public-private psychiatric shared-care models as part of a previous National Mental Health Strategy, there has been surprisingly little research and policy development. Given an apparent exodus of psychiatrists to private practice due to current challenges facing the public health sector, it is timely to reconsider models of private and public sector shared-care that may improve the quality of public mental healthcare.