Models and patterns of service in child and youth consultation-liaison services

The aim was to examine referral pathways to child and youth consultation-liaison (C-L) services to identify patterns associated with demographic characteristics of patients, referral sources, the presenting problem and models of service.

A case record review with a cross-sectional design. Data were extracted from the records of all patients referred to the C-L service for a 3 month period.

Adolescents were more likely to access mental health services through informal liaison services. Medical specialty areas that were inclusive of nursing and allied health, in both the request for service and initial response to the request, had higher frequencies of referral. There was no difference between the disciplines of medicine and social work in the frequency of referrals. However, medicine, social work and nursing differed in the number of staff who initiated the request for consultation, and the types of problems that were presented as reasons for referral.

Inclusive multidisciplinary models may facilitate the development of service relationships in paediatric hospital settings, due to the stability of staffing arrangements. The wider participation of allied health and nursing staff within paediatric hospitals may extend opportunities for the identification of mental health problems and enhance timely management of referrals.