Paediatric liaison

Most families do not welcome referral of their child to a psychiatrist. A wiser strategy is for the paediatrician to be seen as the one requiring further help with an insoluble problem, and/or to run joint clinics with mental health staff. Working with children in paediatric care is highly stressful. Anxiety, anger and despair are not confined to patients and parents. Staff support and continuing professional development is part of the liaison service. Child and adolescent mental health liaison should be available to all clinical services where children or their parents are seen.