A 24-HOUR service has been launched for patients who visit York Hospital's emergency department with mental health problems.

The Mental Health Liaison Service means professionals, including mental health nurses, a senior clinical lead and a consultant psychiatrist, are accessible to provide medical support and advice to staff.

Dr Alastair Turnbull, medical director at York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said the service was 'extremely good news' and began to address the needs of some of the hospital's most vulnerable patients.

"For a long time, there has been a need for greater support for patients with mental health disorders who attend the emergency department and elsewhere in the hospital," he said.

"This is a really positive first step and we now look to work with partners to develop a comprehensive liaison service.”

Jill Copeland, chief operating officer at Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, which will operate the liaison service, said it was another big step forward in developing appropriate mental health services for people in the Vale of York area.

"This service will make a big difference to the quality of care for people with mental health problems in the emergency department," she said.

"We are grateful to the partnership for jointly funding this service this year.”

Dr Louise Barker, the lead for mental health at the NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which is funding the service in partnership with the two trusts, said: “The service will ensure that people with mental health conditions are managed by people with the appropriate skills and in the best environment.”

She said the service supported the CCG’s vision for modern, responsive services, a commitment made in its five-year strategic plan for healthcare in the Vale of York.

A spokeswoman said a liaison service had been available at the emergency department since October, but working only from 8am until midnight, and this had now been expanded to provide the 24-hour, seven-days-a-week service.