Liaison psychiatry is a relatively new and expanding speciality in the UK. A survey conducted in 1990 revealed widespread inadequacies in the training opportunities and resources in consultation liaison services (Mayou et al, 1990). In spite of a growing recognition of the need for more consultants with designated responsibility for general hospital patients, there is currently no formal training programme and many psychiatric schemes fail to provide satisfactory supervision and training opportunities in liaison psychiatry (House & Creed, 1993). The Manchester University liaison psychiatry course was developed in 1993 and is currently the only advanced liaison training course in the UK. Lasting five days, it provides an opportunity for senior psychiatric trainees to improve their specialist knowledge and to develop clinical, research and management skills in liaison psychiatry. The course does not give a comprehensive review of all aspects of liaison psychiatry but aims to generate ideas and discussion through skills based seminars, case discussion and workshop exercises.