Characteristics of an Accident and Emergency liaison mental health service in East London

Authors: Callaghan P.; Eales S.; Leigh L.; Smith A.; Nichols J.

Source: Journal of Advanced Nursing, Volume 35, Number 6, September 2001 , pp. 812-818(7)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Characteristics of an Accident and Emergency liaison mental health service in East London

Aim of the study. To analyse the work of a liaison mental health service at the Accident and Emergency (A & E) department of a hospital in East London.

Background. The English National Service Frameworks (NSF) for Mental Health recommend that A & E departments provide liaison mental health services and this study reports how a service in East London is responding to this challenge.

Research methods. Data were collected during a 14-month period using a specially designed audit form.

Results. The typical referral was aged 36, of either sex, United Kingdom (UK) non-White with a diagnosis of depression. The majority of referrals were in the afternoon and seen immediately. A slight majority were known to mental health services; many were new referrals. Older and male clients were more likely, and Bengali and other Asian clients were less likely, to be registered with a psychiatrist. There were seasonal variations in referral type. Emergency referrals tended to have a diagnosis of schizophrenia; urgent and non-urgent referrals were more likely to be depressed. The outcome for the majority of referrals was referral to appropriate community services. The majority of non-clinical referrals were for advice, information and support.

Discussion and conclusions. The service seems a useful resource for A & E staff, and clients with mental health problems. The service is a channel through which people access mental health services and appears to address the NSF for Mental Health.

Keywords: national service frameworks; liaison mental health; Accident and Emergency; service audit; community psychiatric nurses

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2001-09-01

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• In this Subject: Nursing
• By this author: Callaghan P. ;  Eales S. ;  Leigh L. ;  Smith A. ;  Nichols J.

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