The prevention of unnecessary admission to psychiatric hospitals has been pursued in Amsterdam (pop.700,000), since 1930. A team of outreach psychiatrists will visit those experiencing a psychiatric crisis anytime of the day, at any location in the community, including homes, police stations, or hospital emergency rooms. About 20 patients per hour are visited, 25% must be admitted to hospital. In 1972 a crisis centre was set up to provide intermediary care between the ambulatory team & hospital.