Psychiatric

There is an Acute Psychiatric Unit on site at Cork University Hospital adjacent the Emergency Department and the ED use the services provided by the unit whenever they are required. We have a room available in the Emergency Department to interview and assess patients presenting with psychiatric illness. Over the past number of years, staff in the Emergency Department have joined with our colleagues in the Psychiatric unit to provide Brief interventions for patients presenting with alcohol related problems. This originated from the setting up of the Alcohol Implementation Group (AIG) by the HSE to progress the relevant recommendations from the Strategic Task Force Report on Alcohol.

A Training DVD supported by posters and alcohol leaflets was launched in June 2008 to provide support for these brief interventions. More recently a screening tool is being trialed in the departments Clinical Decision Unit.