"Derby Liaison Team"

My Son in his late teens has had to go to Derby A&E twice this year with severe psychosis. The first was in late May 2018. On this occasion my son believed he was the only person who knew the mind of God and the workings of the universe. He thought that most people were simulations involved in a plot to kill him and was VERY distressed, frightened and desperately needed help. 

When we arrived at A&E I was told the Liaison team would come and assess him. The staff in A&E could see how ill he was. 1 hour later I was told by a nurse that they wouldn't be coming down because he can get all the help he needed in the community. I refused to leave as he was threatening to kill himself and was in absolute turmoil (having no concept of reality). I refused to leave and after 6 hours they came to A&E to see him. 2 staff from the Liaison Team spoke to him for 5 minutes and then allowed me into the room to tell me that they would prescribe him a sleeping tablet and he should go home where they said he has all the support he needs (he has no support at his accomodation). We then waited a further 1 hour for the sleeping tablet.

A couple of days ago after social workers and an ambulance crew felt he needed an emergency psychiatric assessment (again due to extreme psychosis and threats to harm himself) he was taken by ambulance to Derby A&E. He was again seen by the Liaison Team (I don't know who saw him because the hospital is refusing to tell me). During this assessment it was deemed he had capacity and given a sleeping tablet and discharged. The Liaison Team at Derby from my experience is a real threat to the welfare of mentally ill people in Derbyshire. Its my view that the involvement they have in a persons psychiatric crisis is dangerously inadequate.  They seem to be a barrier to care rather than a service provider.