Abstract
Objective: To illustrate the crisis affecting consultation-liaison psychiatry and its practitioners.
Conclusions: There are several options that may be taken, or have already been taken, to secure a future for this psychiatric subspecialty. The need is apparent, and clinicians are willing, but funders are reluctant. The College's response has been critically important, but psychiatrists also need to develop new work skills and innovative job descriptions to ensure the continuation and future development of psychiatric services to general hospital patients.