Article Text

Download PDFPDF
Improving liaison neurology services
  1. Geraint N Fuller1,2
  1. 1 Department of Neurology, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Gloucester, UK
  2. 2 Getting It Right First Time, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Middlesex, UK
  1. Correspondence to Geraint N Fuller, Department of Neurology, Gloucester Royal Hospital, Great Western Road, Gloucester GL1 3NN, UK; Geraint.Fuller{at}nhs.net

Abstract

Liaison neurology (consulting with inpatient ward referrals) is the main way that most patients admitted with neurological disease will access neurology services. Most liaison neurology services are responsive, seeing referrals on request, but they also can be proactive, with a regular neurology presence in the acute medical unit. Fewer than half of hospitals in England have electronic systems, yet these can facilitate the process—allowing electronic responses to advise on investigations before seeing the patient, and arranging follow-up after—as well as prioritising referrals and documenting the process. In this time of COVID-19, there are additional benefits in providing prompt remote advice. Improving the way liaison neurology is delivered can improve patient outcomes and save money by shortening admissions. This hidden work of the neurologists needs to be recorded and recognised.

  • SOMATISATION DISORDER
  • CLINICAL NEUROLOGY
  • HYPERVENTILATION
  • NEUROPATHY

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

Footnotes

  • Funding This work is supported by the Getting It Right First Time team of Madeleine Connolly, Anne Osborne, Tim Gustafson, Nick Dunkley and Anthony James. The GIRFT/ABN Census was developed in collaboration with Cath Mummery at the Association of British Neurologists.

  • Competing interests GNF is a co-editor of Practical Neurology.

  • Patient consent for publication Not required.

  • Provenance and peer review Commissioned; externally peer reviewed by Niall Turbridy, Dublin, Republic of Ireland.