A survey of psychiatric liaison services for older adults in the eastern region of the United Kingdom.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the provision of liaison services for older adults in the Eastern Region of the UK. We surveyed all the acute general hospitals for current service and problems encountered in delivering and developing these services.


RESULTS
The survey had a 100% response. Sixty-two percent did not have a dedicated liaison service. The predominant model of service delivery was nurse led. The majority of the services had evolved over the last 2 years and had time limited funding only. In two hospitals the service had ceased due to lack of continuing funding.


CONCLUSIONS
The survey has highlighted liaison services for older people and show that they remain a neglected area. This survey provides information that will be useful to commissioners and providers who are developing liaison psychiatry services for older people.
Dibben
Claire
C
Wedgwood Unit, West Suffolk Hospital, Hardwick Lane, Bury St Edmunds IP33 2QZ, UK. clairedibben@zoom.co.uk <clairedibben@zoom.co.uk>
O'Loughlin
Christopher
C
Girling
Deborah
D
Tarbuck
Andrew
A
D000368:Aged; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013222:State Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006113:United Kingdom