Service use in consultation-liaison psychiatry: Guidelines for baseline staffing

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine how referrals and clinical activity in consultation-liaison psychiatry (C-L) vary according to unit type and size, length of stay and psychiatric diagnosis, and to use these data to inform recommendations for the minimum levels of staffing required to conduct consultations in a general hospital. Method: Data were collected across three urban teaching hospitals over a 5-year period. The data included hospital admission data, referrals, psychiatric diagnosis, clinical contact time, clinical equivalent full time (EFT) and a measure of 'busyness'. Results: Mean clinical staffing was 0.84 EFT per 100 beds. Services received a mean of 2.4 referrals..