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


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.


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.
Callaghan
P
P
Department of Mental Health and Learning Disability Nursing, City University, London, UK. patrick@city.ac.uk
Eales
S
S
Leigh
L
L
Smith
A
A
Nichols
J
J
D000328:Adult; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015399:Nursing Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data