Psychiatry Case Conference: Introduction to Liaison Psychiatry

Case conferences usually consist of face to face discussion between the Medical Officers, consultant psychiatrists and may be joined by other expert health sciences professional including the staff nurses, assistant medical officers, social workers and occupational medical therapist.

The conference is an opportunity to discuss any medical issues the patients may have and the impact of these issues on the patient’s road to recovery. The aim to reach a common understanding of the issues and agreeing a way forward.

This may be particularly helpful where the specialist has concerns regarding long-term sickness absence; failure of a problem to resolve satisfactorily; queries or difficulty regarding fitness to return to work; the nature of adjustments or restrictions required to allow a return to work or concerns regarding the ability of management to accommodate such adjustments. It may also be useful where further clarification or discussion regarding occupational health advice is required.