The Perinatal Service works with women who have moderate to severe mental health difficulties during pregnancy or within the first year after childbirth. These may be pre-existing illnesses or have their onset in the perinatal period. If there are previous or current mental health difficulties, a woman can consent to a referral to this service.

Family History: for women with a first degree relative who had postnatal psychosis their risk is increased to 0.3% instead of background incidence of 0.1%.  Perinatal would happily discuss these on a case by case basis if needed.

Members of the team have many different professional backgrounds: nursing, psychology, and medicine.

We offer an outpatient service, for patients to be seen in clinic. We can also offer a wide range of therapeutic services ranging from 1-1 contact in clinic or the patient's home to groups. Appointments can be face-to-face or remote, depending on need and clinical judgement.

Our teams consist of: Consultant psychiatrist, mental health nurses, psychologists, nursery nurses, occupational therapist, pharmacist, social worker, midwives, peer support workers and administrators.

Conditions we treat:

• Bipolar affective disorder even if currently well
• Schizophrenia even if currently well
• Any psychotic illness even if currently well
• Moderate to severe depression
• Moderate to severe anxiety disorders including OCD
• Post-traumatic stress disorder with current symptoms
• EUPD with current symptoms

We also provide preconception counselling to any women with serious mental illness planning a family. We actively encourage referrals for these women. 

When referring please provide us with:
•    Patient's name, DoB (including baby), address, telephone number and email address.
•    NHS number
•    Your details
•    If pregnant please tell us the gestation and EDD and where the patient's pregnancy is booked.
•    Any medication the patient is taking or has taken
•    Medical history
•    Patients psychiatric history including any diagnosis, previous treatment, especially any previous admissions and treatment.
•   Current risks and historical risk 
•    Please give an up-to-date assessment of what you feel the patient's mental health needs are now and what you feel we can offer. 

If needed, an interpreter will be booked to attend the appointment, please advise us in the referral if this is needed.

Medication Advice
For medication-related queries, please contact the Perinatal Pharmacist - Dorcas Olupona. Pharmacy support is available part-time (Mondays), and response times may vary depending on capacity. 

Email dorcas.olupona@nhs.net and Cc elft.chperinatal@nhs.net

Eligibility criteria

Inclusions

Please refer patients in the perinatal period, (during pregnancy and up to 2 years post-natal), for moderate to severe mental Illness.

For mild-to-moderate see the perinatal mental health pathway for support options. 

We can see women up to 2 years but only accept referrals up to 18 months postnatal. Referrals after 1 year must have a very clear perinatal need.
 
Do NOT refer to us and CHTT (City and Hackney Talking Therapies) simultaneously.
 

How to refer

The following clinicians can refer to this service: GPs