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Mental health problems affect more than one-quarter of all people and 60% of older people admitted to a general hospital. However, they are often not recognised or adequately treated, with many hospital clinicians reporting that they do not know enough about how to assess or care for people with mental disorders. This can lead to poor quality patient care, greater lengths of stay and increased costs. Around 40 per cent of hospitals have no liaison mental health service to support hospital staff.

It was for these reasons that the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges commissioned the Royal College of Psychiatrists to produce a report about the link between physical and mental health and the need for better services.

The ‘No Health without Mental Health’ Project forms part of the College’s Fair Deal campaign and argues that improvement within the general hospital can be brought about at relatively little additional cost by being ALERT to five priority areas:

• Awareness of the link between physical and mental health needs to be heightened.
• Liaison Psychiatry Services are required in all general hospitals
• Engaging Patients and Carers is essential in improving services
• Re-organisation, Commissioning & Quality Standards – Liaison mental health services should be commissioned and reviewed against agreed specific service standards
• Training and Education needs to be improved for all healthcare professionals

Download the detailed report here. There are also resources and educational materials designed to enhance the skills and knowledge around the issue.

It is hoped that the reports and online information will go some way to increase awareness of the issue, and provide a much needed impetus for the development of better services for this significant and largely neglected group of patients.

Professor Dame Carol Black,
Outgoing Chair, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges

BGS Newsletter, September 2009
Issue 23 ISSN 1748-634000 23