Primary care liaison

Many patients seen in GP practices can have multiple physical health, mental health and social needs. Primary care liaison works proactively with GPs and patients to address the identified problems.

These may include:

• Social exclusion
• Lack of occupational activities
• Benefits problems
• Poor engagement with mainstream services
• Poor physical health
• Ongoing mental health problems
• Life coaching

Primary care liaison teams usually have community mental health nurses and one consultant psychiatrist who liaise with five GP practices to identify patients who need access to mental health support.

Mental health support can include:

• Screening
• Assessment
• Advice
• Signposting
• Access to therapies

Recovery underpins all care and treatment and the liaison service also provides support for family members and wider support networks. For patients with more complex mental health needs the service works with team members from the rest of the other mental health services, as well as GPs, therapists and counsellors.