Liaison psychiatry services in Wales

Abstract

Aims and MethodTo determine the nature of current liaison psychiatry services in Wales, a structured telephone interview was conducted with representatives of all 11 National Health Service trusts.ResultsThree trusts (27%) had no dedicated liaison psychiatry service and only one of the eight (13%) with a service had a full-time consultant liaison psychiatrist. Only two services (25%) had a full-time junior doctor and three (37%) were not multidisciplinary, comprising nursing staff alone. No team had a clinical psychologist and only two (25%) provided a psychological treatment service.Clinical ImplicationsLiaison psychiatry services across Wales are fragmented, under-resourced and unlikely to meet patients' needs. They fall well short of the recommendations of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Psychiatrists.