Mental Health Liaison Team Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre

We are a team of experienced and skilled mental health professional’s including nurses and doctors. We offer specialist mental health assessments for all patients over the age of 16 that are referred from Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Our service operates 7 days a week 24 hours a day.

We provide an initial meeting prior to full assessment to respond in a timely manner and gain understanding for your needs and requirements. We refer, signpost or provide information for self-referral into local mental health and support services

Philosophy and values

• All service users will be treated with respect, privacy and dignity.
• Service users will be fully involved in discussions and decisions relating to their care.
• Follow up care and advice, will be individualised and take into account the personal, social, spiritual and cultural needs of the patient and carer.
• Service users will not be discriminated against on the grounds of age, culture, gender, sexuality, rates or disability.

What does our team do?

• We will offer you a confidential assessment - limits and boundaries of this confidentiality will be explained in the assessment.
• We will give you the time to discuss your needs, current issues and stressors.
• We will take into account your past personal history and previous contact with mental health services.
• We will help you identify your strengths skills and current support.
• We will give you the opportunity to involve family or companions in your assessment either in person or by telephone contact.
• We will send a copy of your assessment to your G.P. and other relevant services to share the information that you have given us. We can also provide you a summary of the assessment if you wish.
• We will collaboratively develop a care plan with you that you understand and agree with.

Our service aims

We see patients at the earliest opportunity, below are the current time frames we aim to achieve:

• Accident and emergency department referrals: 1 hour’s initial meeting and assessment and care plan within 4 hours.

• Acute ward referrals: an initial meeting within 24 hours of referral with assessment to following within the next 72 hours.

Whilst waiting for your assessment, it can be helpful to use this time to think about what your current difficulties are and how we can help you. Please use this space to write down your thoughts as this can often help.

This leaflet is available in alternative languages and formats upon request. Please speak to a member of our staff to arrange this.