Liaison services
Quality statementPeople with suspected or known dementia using acute and general hospital inpatient services or emergency departments have access to a liaison service that specialises in the diagnosis and management of dementia and older people's mental health. Quality measureStructureEvidence of local arrangements to provide a liaison service specialising in the diagnosis and management of dementia and older people's mental health. ProcessProportion of people with suspected or known dementia using acute and general hospital facilities that are assessed by a liaison service that specialises in the diagnosis and management of dementia and older people's mental health. Numerator: the number of people who are assessed by a liaison service that specialises in the diagnosis and management of dementia and older people's mental health. Denominator: the number of people with suspected or known dementia who are admitted to acute or general hospital inpatient services or attending emergency departments. Description of what the quality statement means for each audienceService providers ensure that a liaison service specialising in dementia and older people's mental health is available in acute and general hospital settings to assess inpatients and emergency department attendances with suspected or confirmed dementia. Health care professionals working in acute and general hospital settings ensure they can access a liaison team that specialises in the diagnosis and management of dementia and older people's mental health. Commissioners ensure provision of a liaison service specialising in dementia and older people's mental health to work across acute and general hospital settings to assess people with suspected or known dementia. People with suspected or known dementia admitted to acute and general hospital settings or attending emergency departments can expect, if clinically appropriate, to receive an assessment by a liaison service specialising in dementia and older people's mental health. DefinitionsLocal commissioning arrangements should decide the activity levels for the liaison service. Data sourceStructureLocal data collection. Acute Trusts can collect data on the composition of liaison teams using the National Audit of Dementia organisational checklist, section 9. ProcessLocal data collection. Acute Trusts can collect data on referrals to liaison teams using the National Audit of Dementia casenote audit, section 4. |
This page was last updated: 22 November 2010
