Cumbria Psychiatric Liaison Team – personalised patient information

Cumbria Psychiatric Liaison Team provides assessment of mental health, and treatment of any mental health issues, to people attending a general hospital. Although we are employed by the mental health trust and not the general hospital, we work very closely with the general hospital team

  • The information contained in this booklet is important – please keep it safe.

  • What do the Psychiatric Liaison Team do?

    The Psychiatric Liaison Team provides assessment of mental health, and treatment of any mental health problems, to people attending a general hospital The Psychiatric Liaison Team also includes the Reach Out Delirium Service, which identifies people at risk of Delirium and provides assessment and support throughout admission.  Although we are employed by the mental health trust and not the general hospital, we work very closely with the general hospital team.

  • Who are we?

    We are mental health professionals: specialist medical doctors (called ‘psychiatrists’), mental health nurses, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, other specialist mental health professionals, and administrative staff.

    We are based at:

    • East Team, Cumberland Infirmary, Newtown Road, Carlisle, CA2 7HY
    • West Team, West Cumberland Hospital, Homewood Road, Hensingham, Whitehaven, CA28 8JG.

    The hospitals we cover are:

    • Cumberland Infirmary
    • West Cumberland Hospital

    We have been asked to see you by your general hospital team, who remain the team responsible for your overall care.

  • During our involvement you may be asked to:

    • Take part in your assessment, so that we can agree with you what needs you may have and how we might help them be met.
    • Give permission to us to speak to others (for example, your family).
    • Give permission for us to share information with others concerned with your care.

    People who know you well, such as your family, can always speak to us; we will listen to them but will not normally share any information with them about you without your consent.

  • Interpreters

    If you require an interpreter, please let your referrer know so that one can be arranged for you.

  • When you are seen we will always try to do the utmost possible to respect your privacy and dignity

    • You can be seen in a private area, if one is available.
    • You can choose whether or not a relative, friend or advocate accompanies you.
    • We will encourage you to be involved in decisions about any treatment offered.
  • You may be offered:

    • An appointment to see us again, in the near future.
    • Information and a choice of possible interventions by agencies that will be able to support any plan agreed with you.
  • After the assessment:

    • The plan is written in this leaflet; this may be called a care plan when it is in your medical notes.
    • Relevant information you gave to the psychiatric liaison staff will be given to the hospital team looking after you.
    • You have the right to receive copies of any letters written to your GP.
  • How to contact us

    East Team – Cumberland Infirmary, Newtown Road, Carlisle, CA2 7HY      Tel: 01228 603 982

    West Team – West Cumberland Hospital, Homewood Road, Hensingham, Whitehaven, CA28 8JG  Tel: 0194 668 545

     

  • The Stress Bucket

    We use the stress bucket to explain how everyday stress can build up and up and feels too much sometimes. When we reach the limit of the bucket, stress overflows. We try and cope the best ways we know how. We know that some people have more to manage in life and their buckets can often feel very full.

    For a copy of the stress bucket please telephone:

    East Team: 01228 603 982

    West Team: 0194 668 545

  • How will I know things are getting worse?

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  • What can I do myself to take my mind off my problems? (e.g. listen to uplifting music, watching TV, going for a walk, reading, colouring in, mindfulness, etc)

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  • Useful apps and websites

     

  • Who can I talk to or spend time with for support? (e.g. friends, family, colleagues, clubs, helplines)

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  • Where can I go if I’m feeling unsafe? (e.g. family home, shops, cafes, family or friends’ homes, Samaritans drop in centre, alcohol, substance support groups)

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  • Making my environment safe:

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  • Professionals who I can contact:

    GP ____________________________________

    Recovery Steps Cumbria (Alcohol and Substance Misuse) – 01900 512300

    CRUSE (Bereavement Support) – 0808 808 1677

    Victim Support (Domestic  Violence Support)  – 0300 303 0157

    Cumbria Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service – 0800 245 5658

    NHS 111 – urgent medical advice – 111

    NHS North Cumbria Talking Therapies – 0300 123 9122

    PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) – 0800 032 032

    RELATE – 0191 232 9109

    Samaritans – 116 123

    Saneline – 07984 867 708

    MindLine – 0300 561 0000

    The Bridge Way (Sexual Assault Support Service) – 0808 118 6432

    If you want urgent advice from a mental health professional or it is an emergency, then you can contact your local Initial Response/Crisis Team at any time, 24 hours a day every day of the year, Tel: 0800 652 2865  People who are Deaf and/or have communications difficulties can text: 07795 656 226

    You can also call NHS 111 and selection option 2 for support in a mental health crisis.

     

  • The names of those involved in your assessment are:

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  • Your plan of care which has been agreed upon is:

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  • Patient and carer information

    There is a range of patient and carer information on the Trust’s website – www.cntw.nhs.uk/resource-library –­ which includes information on mental health and wellbeing, information on medicines, side-effects and how to manage them and mental health act information leaflets in 28 languages.

    There are also 23 self help guides written by NHS clinical psychologists with contributions from service users and healthcare staff. Titles cover Depression and Low Mood, Stress, Controlling Anger, Panic, Sleeping Problems and Anxiety.  www.selfhelp.cntw.nhs.uk

  • Consent and confidentiality

    We will usually only see you if you have given your explicit consent. Similarly, you are free to opt out of seeing us at any time. Anything you say is treated in strictest confidence and will only be shared with other members of the team and with other people involved in your health care, such as your GP.

    Members of the team work within professional Codes of Conduct and follow NHS Policies that ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times.  The only exception to this would be if the Team believed that there was a significant risk you would seriously harm yourself or others, or information was obtained about possible harm to vulnerable people such as children.

    If you have any concerns at all about confidentiality please speak to any member of the team.

  • What if I have a comment, suggestion, compliment or complaint about the service?

    If you want to make a comment, suggestion, compliment or complaint you can:
    • talk to the people directly involved in your care
    • ask a member of staff for a feedback form, or complete a form on the Trust website www.cntw.nhs.uk/contact/complaints/
    • telephone the Complaints Department Tel: 0191 245 6672
    • email [email protected]

    We are always looking at ways to improve services. Your feedback allows us to monitor the quality of our services and act upon issues that you bring to our attention.

    You can provide feedback in the following ways:
    – the quickest way for you to do this is to complete our short online survey at www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourvoice
    – complete a Your Voice survey, available from staff
    – other options for sharing your feedback and experience www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourfeedback

    Please enter code NSHL

    Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
    PALS provide confidential advice and support, helping you to sort out any concerns that you may have about any aspect of your or your loved ones care.

    We act independently when handling patient and family concerns, liaising with staff, managers and, where appropriate, relevant organisations, to negotiate prompt solutions. If necessary, we can also refer patients and families to specific local or national-based support agencies.

    North of Tyne
    Tel: 0800 032 0202 Email: [email protected]
    Post: FREEPOST PALS

  • Information about content, other formats and version control

    Further information about the content, reference sources or production of this leaflet can be obtained from the Patient Information Centre. If you would like to tell us what you think about this leaflet please get in touch.

    This information can be made available in a range of formats on request (eg Braille, audio, larger print, easy read, BSL or other languages). Please contact the Patient Information Centre Tel: 0191 246 7288

    Published by the Patient Information Centre

    2024 Copyright, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

    Ref, PIC/857/0924 September 2024 V6

    www.cntw.nhs.uk Tel: 0191 246 7288

    Review date 2027