Prestigious accreditation for Bristol NHS Group Liaison Psychiatry services

Liaison Psychiatry Services at Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) and Southmead Hospital have achieved re-accreditation with the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2025, meeting the 125 Standards set out in the 7th Edition of the Psychiatric Liaison Accreditation Network (PLAN).

This accreditation demonstrates that both services have met rigorous National Standards of Excellence in delivering mental health care within the acute hospital setting.

Liaison Psychiatry is a hospital-based service that explores the relationship between people’s physical and mental health and provides treatment and care.

The assessment for the accreditation process involved detailed peer review, patient and carer feedback, and evidence of best practice.

Key areas of excellence recognised include:

• Patient-centred care that promotes dignity, respect, and recovery.
• Strong partnership working with acute hospital colleagues, community services, and voluntary sector partners.
• Responsive crisis support, ensuring patients receive timely and appropriate care.
• Focus on staff wellbeing and training, developing a skilled and resilient workforce.
• Commitment to continuous improvement through reflective practice and quality initiatives.

Ben Ford, Lead Nurse for Mental Health at NBT said:

“This accreditation is a testament to the commitment, professionalism, and compassion of our teams. Patients and families can be confident that the care we provide meets the highest recognised standards.

“This achievement is both a recognition of our work to date and a springboard for further improvement, innovation and equity of access in psychiatric liaison care within our hospital Group and our wider region.”

Nik Munien, Lead Nurse for Mental Health at UHBW, said: 

"Re-accreditation is an outstanding achievement and reflects Bristol NHS Group's position as the leading provider of Liaison Psychiatry in the region. A special thank you is shared to the project team who went above & beyond to coordinate and deliver our submission.

“We extend our thanks to the teams, hospital colleagues, and those patients and carers who generously gave feedback to support the accreditation process."

As part of the Bristol NHS Group, a partnership between North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) who run Southmead and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, who run the BRI, are bringing the two services together, to act as one Group Clinical Service.

Bringing the two services together to become a single hospital group service is part of the realisation of the Joint Clinical Strategy ambition to provide seamless, high quality, equitable and sustainable care at Bristol NHS Group hospitals and in the communities they serve.