Psychiatric Liaison Team North Somerset

About our service

The Psychiatric Liaison Team offers a full assessment service to patients who:

present in the Accident and Emergency Department at Weston General Hospital, who either ask for mental health support or who A & E staff feel could benefit from a mental health assessment.
are on other wards in Weston General Hospital and who require, and are consenting to a mental health assessment.

Each patient who is in A & E after a suicide attempt or episode of self harm will be referred to our team.

We are available to see patients between 8am and 8pm and we work seven days a week.

The team is made up of experienced mental health nurses and a consultant psychiatrist who are skilled in mental health assessments and who can offer advice on:

Coping strategies
Health education
Ways to access local mental health resources
Self help

What happens when I am referred to the service?

The first thing we do is listen to you. We give you time to discuss your situation, so that we can support you in sorting out your difficulties.

We will always try to find somewhere quiet and private to talk.

During your assessment, we will ask you about your social situation, your history, your mood and your stresses.

It is important that you answer questions as fully as possible, so we are able to complete the assessment and agree a plan of care
with you.

Having gathered all relevant information, we will discuss options with you. We may make a number of suggestions and give you information about local services.

We will liaise closely with your GP and always keep them informed of your care plan.

We will ask you whether you would like a copy of the letter we send to your GP.

What should I do if I have a mental health crisis?

If you feel that you are in crisis, these are the things you can do.

It is always preferable to make an appointment to see your GP first, however we do understand this is not always possible.
If you are already receiving a service from your local Community Health Team (CMHT), you should contact them directly.
If you are experiencing a serious mental health crisis, then you should contact your GP or out of hours service.
If you have harmed yourself in any way including taking an overdose, always go directly to your nearest A & E department.

Confidentiality

We will ask you for relevant information so that we can give you the best care and treatment. We have a duty to maintain confidentiality.

However, we will normally inform your GP about your assessment. We may also have a duty to speak to other agencies after your assessment. We will always talk to you about this.