Continuity of forensic mental health care is important in building protective structures around a patient and has been shown to decrease risks of relapse. Realising continuity can be complicated due to restrictions from finances or legislation and difficulties in collaboration between settings. In the Netherlands, several programs have been developed to improve continuity of forensic care. It is unknown whether professionals and clients are sufficiently aware of these programs. The paper aims to discuss this issue.,The experienced difficulties and needs of professionals and patients regarding continuity of forensic care were explored by means of an online survey and focus groups. The survey was completed by 318 professionals. Two focus groups with professionals (15 participants), one focus group and one interview with patients (six participants) were conducted.,The overall majority (85.6 percent) reported to experience problems in continuity on a frequent basis. The three main problems are: first, limited capacity for discharge from inpatient to outpatient or sheltered living; second, collaboration between forensic and regular mental health care; and, third, limited capacity for long-term inpatient care. Only a quarter of the participants knew the existing programs. Actual implementation of these programs was even lower (3.9 percent). The top three of professionals’ needs are: better collaboration; higher capacity; more knowledge about rules and regulation. Participants of the focus groups emphasized the importance of transparent communication, timely discharge planning and education.,Gathering best practices about regional collaboration networks and developing a blueprint based on the best practices could be helpful in improving collaboration between setting in the forensic field. In addition, more use of systematic discharge planning is needed to improve continuity in forensic mental health care. It is important to communicate in an honest, transparent way to clients about their forensic mental health trajectories, even if there are setbacks or delays. More emphasis needs to be placed on communicating and implementing policy programs in daily practice and more education about legislation is needed Structured evaluations of programs aiming to improve continuity of forensic mental health care are highly needed.,Policy programs hardly reach professionals. Professionals see improvements in collaboration as top priority. Patients emphasize the human approach and transparent communication.

中文翻译：

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改善法医精神保健的连续性

法医精神卫生保健的连续性对于在患者周围建立保护性结构非常重要，并且已经证明可以减少复发的风险。由于财务或法规的限制以及环境之间的协作困难，实现连续性可能会很复杂。在荷兰，已经制定了一些计划来改善法医护理的连续性。尚不清楚专业人员和客户是否充分了解这些程序。本文旨在讨论这一问题。通过在线调查和焦点小组探讨了专业人士和患者在法医连续性方面遇到的困难和需求。这项调查由318位专业人士完成。由专业人员组成的两个焦点小组（15名参与者），进行了一个焦点小组访谈和一次患者访谈（六名参与者）。据报告，绝大多数（85.6％）经常遇到连续性问题。三个主要问题是：第一，从住院病人到门诊病人或庇护所的出院能力有限；第二，法医和常规精神保健之间的合作；第三，长期住院治疗的能力有限。只有四分之一的参与者知道现有的程序。这些计划的实际执行率更低（3.9％）。专业人员需求的前三名是：更好的协作；更高的容量 有关规则和法规的更多知识。焦点小组的与会者强调了透明沟通，及时出院计划和教育的重要性。收集有关区域协作网络的最佳实践并根据最佳实践制定蓝图，可能有助于改善法医领域的环境之间的协作。此外，需要更多地使用系统的出院计划以改善法医精神卫生服务的连续性。重要的是，即使遇到挫折或延误，也要以诚实，透明的方式与客户沟通其法医心理健康的轨迹。需要在日常实践中更加重视交流和实施政策计划，并且需要更多地进行立法方面的教育。对计划的评估旨在提高法医精神卫生的连续性是非常必要的。政策计划几乎没有专业人员。专业人士将改进协作视为重中之重。