This Bill had its Third Reading on 19 April 1985. It seeks to increase to life imprisonment the maximum penalty available to the courts in sentencing people convicted of trafficking in Class A drugs, principally heroin and cocaine.

The Marriage Guidance Council sets out. as the first of its objectives states: To provide a confidential counselling service for people who have difficulties or anxieties in their marriages or in other personal relationships. It offers other services too: education for young people, setting up training courses and conferences, and publishing and distributing literature. But the counselling of individuals and couples is the main activity of the Council and the one for which it is generally known.

One of the chief problems mentioned by the relatives of people suffering from schizophrenia is the difficulty in obtaining factual and practical advice. Many have struggled on for years, using trial-and-error methods, without knowing whether their lack of success was due to the immutable course of events, to ignorance, or to a deficiency in themselves of the ability to care. Some have made tentative enquiries but have been given a more or less polite brush-off. Although most relatives, like most sufferers, do eventually become aware of the diagnosis, it is rare for them to be given this information as part of a long-term plan of management which they are invited to share with professional staff and patient, and even more unusual for them to be told early in the course of the disorder.

In February 1984 at the Quarterly Meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Professor A. Guz from the Department of Medicine, Charing Cross Hospital, presented a paper with the above title. In this paper he raised a number of points regarding the role of liaison psychiatry and of the psychiatrists involved in practising it. The paper collated the views of himself and other professors of medicine, and obviously it is important that we as psychiatrists take note of the opinions expressed by people with such an extensive knowledge of medicine. Many of the points which Professor Guz raised I found myself to be in total agreement with; however, there were one or two issues which I think perhaps deserve a reply and I would like to attempt to do this through the Bulletin. As many of the Bulletin readers will know, there is an increasing interest in liaison psychiatry and this has been recognized by the College in the recent establishment of a special interest group. I should perhaps point out, however, that the views expressed in this article are mine alone and do not necessarily represent those of any other liaison psychiatrist, or of the special interest group.

Teaching by television is a powerful method. Drug companies know this and have always been aware of the effect and importance of slick audio-visual presentation, yet it is still little used in medical education. In any discussion about video it is necessary to recognize this ambivalence and resistance to new technology. For the teacher, I think that this may stem from fear of the unknown, appearing incompetent, or worse, redundant.

I have just spent 18 months searching for a job to continue higher psychiatric training in the London area. In connection with this quest, I wrote many letters, made numerous telephone calls, spoke with more than 50 consultant psychiatrists in 11 teaching hospital settings, investigated and considered 23 advertised posts, applied for 16, was shortlisted for 12, withdrew from one and was interviewed for 12, before finally being offered a job which I was happy to accept.

To those who have bought shares in British Telecom, and for those who have not, this report may offer evidence to help them rationalize their judgement about the wisdom of their action.