A methodology for evaluating change and impact of illness perceptions among patients with memory complaints and their next of kin during the diagnosis process.

problem-based educational input, while eight (53.3%) had provided some type of ward-based educational initiatives. Eleven services (73.3%) reported that they did not have any IT support for recording service activity thereby compromising collation of activity data. In summary, it appears that all services with a general hospital within their catchment area were endeavoring to provide some type of CL service to that hospital. However, the time and personnel allocated to provision of CL services were inadequate or nonexistent in many instances. Consequently, the services provided were largely reactive and consultative in nature with few educational or proactive initiatives to improve the overall standards of mental healthcare within the hospital. In addition, the services were provided to a restricted group of older adults and service activity was not adequately recorded in many instances. However, the majority of services did indicate a willingness to undertake a more extended role within the hospital assuming that this role was supported by adequate resource provision. Overall, the findings indicate that age-specific CL services for older adults are underdeveloped and, in the context of an aging Irish population, there is now an increasing need to further develop CL services. The increased demand for CL services internationally indicates that this has now become an issue of global significance (Anderson et al., 2011). Ultimately, appropriate resource provision to facilitate a liaison model of care could lead to enhanced standards of care and more effective use of finite healthcare resources. Conflict of interest