There’s a lot of evidence to show that hospital patients with long-term medical problems such as diabetes, lung disease or HIV also experience poor mental health, with rates of depression and anxiety two or three times higher than the general population.

Our psychiatric liaison service is a specialist mental health service that provides care to people who are inpatients in the acute hospitals in Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow or visitors to the Emergency Departments and Urgent Care Centres. We’re made up of mental health professionals who have specific expertise in helping people who harm themselves or who may have mental health problems which might cause problems for their physical healthcare and hospital discharge.

We know that between 30 and 60 per cent of patients in general hospitals will have problems related to their mental health – a figure much higher than in the general population. Our service works hard to support patients by providing psychiatric assessment and treatment to those who may be experiencing distress whilst in hospital as well as in the community.

We’re available to anyone over the age of 16, regardless of address, needing advice, assistance or a mental health assessment. We are a consultant (doctor) led service and work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Staff in A&E or on wards can ask us for advice, assistance or a full mental health assessment, if needed. We also work with GPs, Social Services and physical health specialists as part of the North West London Integrated Care Programme, ensuring that professionals remember to consider psychological factors when planning treatment for patients with complex needs.

A large part of our work involves helping those who have reached a psychiatric crisis point or who may have harmed themselves. We meet them in a private space in the acute hospital to discuss what has led up to the crisis and to try to find a way to offer support. This might involve liaising with their own doctors, arranging psychological therapy at home or maybe even an admission to a mental health ward if the risks are high.

For more information about our service, please visit www.wlmht.nhs.uk or follow us on Twitter @WLLiaisonPsych