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Liaison psychiatry has been defined as “that area of clinical psychiatry that encompasses clinical, teaching and research activities of psychiatrists and allied mental health professionals in the non-psychiatric division of a general hospital”(1). It is an expanding subspecialty and is the subject of 2 recent texts (2, 3). The liaison psychiatrist plays an important role as a link between psychiatry and general medicine and in his clinical capacity, as a communications link between the patient and his physician (4).

There have been many dramatic changes in obstetric practice in Great Britain during the past two decades.

Unlike some other European countries, in the United Kingdom there are no separate Psychosomatic Clinics for the treatment of psychosomatic disorders. If such disorders are recognised as psychosomatic at all, they are treated jointly by physicians and psychiatrists. The role of liaison psychiatrist is a relatively new one in the United Kingdom — I know of only six consultant liaison psychiatrist appointments in the National Health Service.