The Department of Liaison Psychiatry provides a service to the medical wards at the University Hospital of Wales, Rookwood Hospital and Cardiff Royal Infirmary, as well as to Holme Tower.
Assessments
- Patients between the ages of 16 and 65 are assessed as in-patients by the medical staff.
- Psychiatric liaison nurses assess inpatients at the Cardiff Poisons Unit at University Hospital Llandough.
- Psychiatric liaison nurses assess patients presenting to the Emergency Unit. University Hospital of Wales
Referrals
- In-patients are referred via a specific Liaison Psychiatry referral form available on all wards within the hospitals covered by the service.
- Physicians are also able to refer patients who are not already under the care of a psychiatrist in the community as outpatients.
- GP referrals are accepted for patients who present with mental health difficulties related to medical problems, where these medical problems have been fully investigated.
- A second opinion service is provided to Community Mental Health Teams to help with management of patients whose mental health difficulties are being exacerbated by chronic physical difficulties.
- A cognitive-behavioural psychotherapist sees patients who have been assessed and referred by the Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist and junior doctors, but is unable to take referrals directly.