Summary
This report, from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, summarises the evidence about the role and benefits of liaison psychiatry services in acute hospitals. It describes the range of mental health problems encountered, and the various interventions in acute hospitals. Examples are given to demonstrate the benefits of liaison psychiatry services.
Topics covered include service design, organisational standards, access and response standards, hours of operation, staffing, and risk management. The main content section headings in this report comprise:
- Executive summary.
- Background.
- Scale and nature of problems needing specialist services.
- Case examples illustrating gains to be made from investment.
- Service design.
- Integrated governance of liaison psychiatry.
- Clinical topics for mental healthcare in acute hospitals.
- References.
Reference
Liaison psychiatry for every acute hospital: integrated mental and physical healthcare. College Report CR183. London: Royal College of Psychiatrists, December 2013.
“Of general hospital in-patients, 30% have a psychiatric disorder, most commonly dementia, delirium, depression and adjustment disorders; the figure for older people is 45% (Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, 2010)”. (p.22)
