[A version of this item appears in: Dementia: the Latest Evidence Newsletter (RWHT), Volume 2 Issue 9, April 2012].
Summary
The Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health (JCP-MH) has produced this guide on commissioning mental health (psychiatric) liaison services in hospitals. An acute liaison service provides services for patients in acute settings (inpatient or outpatient) who have, or are at risk of, mental disorder. Such services attempt to meet the mental health needs of adult patients in all wards across the hospital, including people with mental health difficulties associated with old age such as dementia. Common reasons for referral to these services might include deliberate self-harm, depression, cognitive impairment, confusion and dementia, alcohol misuse, suicidal thoughts and psychosis. Section headings in this document cover:
- Introduction.
- What are acute liaison services?
- Why is acute liaison important to commissioners?
- What do we know about the current provision of acute liaison services?
- What would a good liaison service look like?
- Supporting the delivery of the mental health strategy.
- Resources and references.
Reference
Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health (2012). Guidance for commissioners of liaison mental health services to acute hospitals. Volume Two: Practical mental health commissioning. London: Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health, February 2012.
