The South West Yorkshire mental Health Trust

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust offer a mental health liaison service in our hospitals, working in partnership with our staff.

The mental health liaison team are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for any adult (18+) who 
might be experiencing problems with their mental health.  The team are based at Calderdale Royal 
Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.

The team offer a specialist service which has been commissioned (planned and paid for locally) to 
help people who are in hospital or present at A&E. It is sometimes known as a Rapid Assessment 
Interface and Discharge (RAID) service.

The team are from a variety of different professions, so that they can offer the best possible care 
and advice. The team is made up of doctors, including consultant psychiatrists, psychologists, mental 
health nurses and social workers.

The team want to reduce any mental health distress as quickly as possible. So, they aim to provide a rapid assessment for people who need help in Accident and Emergency (A&E) and for people who are inpatients in hospital.

Their assessment can help provide a diagnosis and support people during their stay in hospital as 
well as give information about other organisations that can offer continued support.

Anyone in A&E can quickly and easily access the team and may be referred by a member of our 
hospital staff who may be concerned about an individual’s mental health.

If someone is currently staying in hospital, staff caring for them may also decide it would be useful 
for a member of the team to have a chat.

Patients, relatives or carers are also able to speak to the team directly. A member of hospital staff 
can help people get in touch with us. 

Following assessment, a member of the team will have a chat with an individual about how they 
could get further help and what this help might look like.

For example, depending on individual circumstances and preferences, this could include:

• Continued assessment by the team
• Referral to other specialist mental health services
• Referral to services provided by other NHS or social care organisations
• Referral to intensive home based treatment
• Inpatient admission (if being seen in A&E)
• Advice about local voluntary organisations that can provide further help

The team will discuss and explain all the different options and there will be the opportunity to ask 
any questions. The team will work closely with individuals so they can decide on best options 
together.

If someone is already receiving mental health care in the community the team would still be very 
happy to speak with them. The team will work closely with their current care coordinator to ensure 
the best possible care.

Carers or relative views are always taken into account during the assessment process and also then 
in any care provided.

During the assessment process the team will take time to speak with relatives and carers to ensure 
they understand the process and the options.

The team are also happy to chat with carers or relatives about how they may be coping whilst their 
relative or the person they care for is in hospital. The team may be able to give advice and assistance 
as well as information about local support.

Just ask any member of hospital staff if you’d like to speak with the team and we’ll help put you in 
touch.

The team are based in Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and are available 
all day, every day. Ask a member of our hospital staff to help you get in touch with the team.

Download a leaflet about the team here.