Northern and Yorkshire Regional
Information for LTHT Staff:
Clinical Health Psychology Service for Patients in Plastics, Orthopaedics and the Major Trauma Centre
The following information tells you about the Clinical Health Psychology Service for Plastics, Orthopaedics and the Major Trauma Centre and how to initiate a referral to this service.
Who are we?
There are several Clinical Psychologists working inPlastics, Orthopaedics and the Major Trauma Centre
We are:
- Dr Maggie Bellew, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
- Dr Andrea Brown, Senior Clinical Psychologist
- Dr Rachel Mandela, Senior Clinical Psychologist
- Dr Karen Hardwick, Senior Clinical Psychologist
- Dr Louise Johnson, Clinical Psychologist
What support can we offer?
- We see both children and adults who are receiving care from the Plastics, Orthopaedic or Major Trauma Teams.
- We are able to see patients on the ward while they are in hospital and/or as outpatients when they are discharged home.
- We can see individuals, couples, families and groups.
- We are able to offer one off appointments or a series of appointments.
- We offer appointments for counselling, therapy and support.
- We offer assessment of the effects of brain injury.
- We can offer information and guidance about other services.
- We offer services within Plastics to:
- Children’s Hand Clinic
- Craniofacial Clinic
- The Hand Transplant Programme
What can we help with?
Clinical Psychologists are trained to help people talk through their problems. Some examples of the things we can help with are:
- Coping after a traumatic event.
- Help with psychological symptoms following trauma, e.g. nightmares, images of the accident, distressing thoughts.
- Copingwith an injury or illness.
- Pre-surgical decision making.
- Preparation and support for surgery including anxieties about operations / treatments.
- Bereavement.
- Adjusting to the outcome of medical assessments, treatments and procedures.
- Low mood and anxiety in relation to being in hospital.
- Panic attacks.
What happens after referral?
When we receive an outpatient referral the patient will be placed on a waiting list. They will be sent an appointment letter when they reach the top of the waiting list. When we receive an inpatient referral, we will contact with the referrer and make arrangements to see the patient.
Where will patients be seen?
- Inpatients will be seen on the ward where they are receiving treatment.
- Clinical Psychology outpatient appointments take place in Clarendon Wing of The Leeds General Infirmary, or Fielding House at St James’s Hospital.
How soon will the patient be seen?
The Clinical Health Psychology Service will endeavour to see outpatient referrals within a maximum of 18 weeks, in line with current Department of Health and LTHT directives. The service prioritises those patients whose psychological distress is interfering with urgently needed treatment.
Treatment duration:
A typical appointment will last 50 minutes. Some patients may be seen for a single assessment, whereas others may see their psychologist for several weeks or months. This will be decided between the patient and psychologist.
The referral process:
Referrals can be made by letter or using the referral form. These should come from the patient’s Consultant Surgeon, Senior Nursing staff, Physiotherapists or Occupational Therapists and should be sent to Dr Maggie Bellew. If in doubt about the appropriateness of a referral, please ring a member of the team to discuss.
Referrals should be sent to the following address:
Dr Maggie Bellew
Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery
B Floor, Clarendon Wing
Leeds General Infirmary
Telephone: 0113 3923121; FAX: 0113 3922941
Major Trauma Centre Inpatient referrals:
Major Trauma Centre Inpatient Referrals should follow the referral protocol available on Ward L22
Written by: Dr Maggie Bellew, Dr Andrea Brown, Dr Chloe Miller, Dr Nigel Wainwright & Dr David Aaron, Department of Clinical & Health Psychology, June 2014