Patient transfers for psychiatric emergencies: Outcomes of the Nurse-led Consultant Psychiatry Liaison (NPCPL) service

Abstract

Acute care nurses regularly observe changes and deterioration in patients’ mental health during hospital admissions for other medical conditions. Since March 2023, acute patients experiencing psychiatric emergencies can be transferred to the Epworth Clinic for appropriate inpatient mental health treatment. A Nurse Practitioner now reviews the suitability for transfer from hospital and completes the intake at the Epworth Clinic. Due to the limited research in this area, it is necessary to evaluate the uptake of nurse-led consultant mental health services. The NPCPL service is providing important mental health support to Epworth patients who exhibit mental distress or psychiatric symptoms during their hospitalisation. In addition to undertaking mental health assessments and assisting with the management of challenging patient behaviours, the NPCPL service now assists Epworth patients by facilitating transfers to inpatient mental health care at the Epworth Clinic.