A review of a psychiatry-nephrology liaison service

A review was carried out of the work of a liaison psychiatry service to a paediatric nephrology team over a 4 year period. Elements of the service included a monthly meeting between psychiatry staff and all disciplines in the nephrology team, direct referrals for assessment and treatment by the psychiatry team, and 'telephone advice'. Direct assessments of 38 cases were made; 20 had 2 or more follow-up appointments. Three methods of audit are presented: a review of psychiatric diagnosis with comparison of patients with chronic renal failure and those with other disorders associated with the renal tract, outcome and interventions, costing of intervention in two cases, and a 'consumer satisfaction' questionnaire to nephrology team members. Those responding to the questionnaire (13/21) valued the liaison service. Their comments particularly endorsed the monthly liaison meeting which provided an opportunity to review critically the management of long term and challenging cases.