ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Psychiatric problems are commonplace throughout clinical medicine.1 It follows that no clinical service in secondary or tertiary care hospitals can function adequately without access to psychiatric advice on diagnosis and management, although the frequency with which this advice is sought varies across the specialties. In recognition of this need, liaison psychiatry has developed as a subspecialty within psychiatry, and many hospital trusts now have established liaison psychiatry services. The number of consultant posts has expanded from a small base in the 1980s,2 but not as rapidly as the Royal College of Psychiatrists has recommended.3 Clinical expansion has been accompanied by increased professional recognition,4 liaison psychiatry now having faculty status within the College.
