South Thames Cleft Service

Transcription

1 South Thames Cleft Service The Clinical Psychology Team: who we are and how we can help This leaflet provides you with information about the South Thames Cleft Service and how we can help you. If you have any further questions, please speak to a doctor or nurse caring for you.

2 What does the Clinical Psychology Team within the Cleft Service do? The Clinical Psychology Team within the South Thames Cleft Service provides psychological support for individuals and the families of individuals with cleft lip and/or palate. Although we do not expect that people who have been born with a cleft lip and/or palate will have psychological problems, we often meet with individuals experiencing difficulties in relation to cleft, which have either a direct or indirect impact on their psychological wellbeing. Therefore, we aim to provide a specialist support service which specifically addresses the range of cleft-related difficulties commonly encountered. We are able to offer you a confidential space to talk about how you are feeling. We can offer support and can suggest strategies for you to try. We will work closely with you to find ways of enhancing your psychological wellbeing. Who are the Clinical Psychology Team? Our names are Dr Kate le Maréchal and Dr Lotte Williams. We are clinical psychologists for the South Thames Cleft Service. We often have a trainee clinical psychologist and an undergraduate student psychologist in our team as well. 2

3 Dr Kate le Maréchal Dr Lotte Williams Who is the service for? The Clinical Psychology Team is available to both children and adults under the care of the South Thames Cleft Service. We also work with the parent(s) of children with cleft lip and/or palate, as well as with other family members. Commonly, we deal with issues such as: how to answer other people s questions and comments confidence and self-esteem bullying and teasing appearance concerns decision making and treatment planning support around surgery ante-natal concerns, post-natal concerns, and support around the diagnosis of cleft anxiety and worries low mood. 3

4 These are just a few examples of the circumstances under which we meet with people. How does the service work? If you would like to see someone from the Clinical Psychology Team, there are several ways that you can be referred to us. You can tell any member of the Cleft Team that you would like to see a clinical psychologist, or, if you prefer, you can contact us directly (see contact details at the end of this leaflet). We usually invite people to an appointment at St Thomas Hospital. Once we are able to offer an appointment, we will call you to arrange a convenient date and time. Wherever possible, we try to see people on the same day that they are coming for other hospital appointments. Your appointment may be a one off session, or we may arrange a series of appointments, depending on what best suits you. Sometimes we are able to suggest other services that may be able to provide better or more local support. Your first appointment will usually last for around minutes. During this first meeting, we consider some ways forward, for example, arranging further sessions or directing you to other services. Any further appointments with us usually last for 60 minutes. 4

5 Contact us Please feel free to contact us if you have any queries about the psychology service or if you wish to discuss whether a referral may be helpful for you or someone else. The South Thames Cleft Service is located at St Thomas Hospital: South Thames Cleft Service 1st floor, Staircase C, South Wing St Thomas Hospital Westminster Bridge Road London, SE1 7EH t: If you would like to contact us directly, please call the psychology office number: t: Alternatively, you can Dr Kate le Maréchal or Dr Lotte Williams at: e: kate.lemarechal@gstt.nhs.uk e: lotte.williams@gstt.nhs.uk 5

6 Further information Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) To make comments or raise concerns about the Trust s services, please contact PALS. t: at St Thomas t: at Guy s e: pals@gstt.nhs.uk Knowledge & Information Centre (KIC) For more information about health conditions and local services, please visit the KIC on the Ground Floor, North Wing, St Thomas Hospital. t: Language support services t: fax: NHS Direct Offers health information and advice over the phone 24 hours a day. t: w: NHS Choices Provides online information and guidance on all aspects of health and healthcare, to help you make choices about your health. w: Leaflet number: 3319/VER2 Date published: October 2013 Review date: October Guy s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust