PB CPD Online e-learning site
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
British Journal of Psychiatry Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Psychiatric Bulletin (2007) 31: 255-258. doi: 10.1192/pb.bp.106.014415
© 2007 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow data supplement
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow View responses
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hughes, L.
Right arrow Articles by Kosky, N.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Hughes, L.
Right arrow Articles by Kosky, N.

Meeting NICE self-harm standards in an accident and emergency department

Leah Hughes

Sister, Accident and Emergency/Crisis Response Triage Worker, Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 2JY, email: leah.hughes{at}wdgh.nhs.uk

Nick Kosky

Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Director of Dorset Primary Care Trust, Dorset County Hospital, Dorchester

Declaration of interest

None.

AIMS AND METHOD An audit in a general hospital accident and emergency (A&E) department and the subsequent development of a triage process for people presenting with self-harm is described. A random sample of 103 people attending with self-harm were selected and their treatment audited against standards derived from NICE guidelines.

RESULTS The service provided by the A&E department was sub-standard. Of particular concern was the lack of processes addressing risk assessment and safe discharge. A pro forma was designed with the aim of improving assessment of self-harm. A repeat audit 3 months after introduction of the pro forma showed an improvement in the recording of relevant information underpinning risk assessment.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Procedures for those presenting to A&E departments with self-harm may not meet recommended guidelines. The use of a pro forma with staff training can improve risk assessment.




eLetters:

Read all eLetters

Assessment of self harm in A & E
Shalini Agrawal
PB Online, 26 Jul 2007 [Full text]

HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
British Journal of Psychiatry Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals
Copyright © 2007 The Royal College of Psychiatrists.