Liaison psychiatrists work at the interface between physical and psychological health, providing psychiatric care to medical patients.
Training usually starts with a five year first degree in medicine and two years of foundation training. You'll then do three years of core training (CT1–3), followed by three years of specialist training (ST4-6). This period of training will include completing your royal college exams. Length of training can vary according to your circumstances.
Doctors may work up to 48 hours a week. The working hours may sometimes extend beyond the normal working day to include early mornings, evenings and weekends. You’ll first earn a salary when you start your foundation training after medical school. Once you start your specialty training as a liaison psychiatrist employed by the NHS, you can expect to earn a salary of at least £40,257, which can increase to between £84,559 and £114,003 as a consultant.
You'll need empathy and compassion, excellent listening skills and a calm personality. Emotional resilience and initiative to work in challenging situations are also important. You'll also need excellent communication and team working skills along with good problem-solving and decision-making skills using logical/lateral thinking.
You could specialise or conduct research in areas such as cures for dementia, teach medical students or postgraduate students in training or get involved in research at universities, the NHS or private sector.