The increase in long-term conditions in the ageing population in England leads to a significant degree of overlap between mental and physical healthcare. Demands for integrated care between psychiatry and other medical specialties result in increased pressure on the psychiatry workforce, particularly the liaison and forensic psychiatry workforce, to help manage co-morbid physical and mental illnesses.

Due to co- and multi-morbidity, non-medical mental health team members require better physical health training, and national guidelines (both in commissioning and clinical care) are altered to acknowledge the overlaps between mental and physical health.

Proposed workforce impact

• Greater demand on the psychiatrist workforce, especially old-age, forensic and liaison psychiatry
• The psychiatrist’s role as trainer and supervisor increases

Sources or references

• Corser, (2011), Increasing primary care comorbidity: a conceptual research and practice framework , Research Theory in Nursing Practice, 25, 4, 238-251
• Egede, et al., (2002), Comorbid Depression is Associated with Increased Health Care Use and Expenditures in Individuals with Diabetes, Diabetes Care, 25, 3, 464- 470

Additional research questions

• How will the ‘parity of esteem’ between physical and mental health (in the Health and Social Care Act 2012) impact on commissioning intentions and service delivery?
• How will financial constraints impact on the need for this type of integrated care?

Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.