At the time of writing, Mark Broadhurst was a specialist registrar in liaison psychiatry in Sheffield. He is currently working as a consultant in general adult psychiatry in Derbyshire, where he intends to maintain his interest in liaison psychiatry. Paul Gill has been a consultant in liaison psychiatry, working with the Sheffield Care Trust (The Longley Centre, Norwood Grange Drive, Sheffield S5 7JT, UK. Email: paul.gill{at}sct.nhs.uk), for the past 9 years. He previously worked for 10 years as a consultant in general adult psychiatry with special interest in liaison psychiatry.
Self-injury (self-harm) occurs frequently and is familiar in the accident and emergency departments and surgical and medical wards of acute hospitals. Despite its common presentation, there are frequent and authoritative reports that patients experiences of emergency hospital treatment for self-harm are often negative. There is compelling evidence for the need to improve delivery of care for patients who self-harm, and to improve the training, supervision, support and coordination of the staff groups delivering that care.