9th June 2009
Hospital’s newly expanded psychotherapy and counselling service is open for business
The psychotherapy and counselling service at mid Essex Hospitals has been expanded and is now available across all departments within the hospitals.
The service, which previously only covered the St Andrew’s centre for plastic surgery and burns, is available to inpatients and outpatients Monday – Friday. The newly formed team, consisting of psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors and psychiatric liaison staff, are able to work with both child and adult patients and their families.
Nancy Cohn, consultant psychotherapist and service manager, said: “I am very pleased that the management have supported us by allowing us to expand our team. It will make a big difference to patient care as our overriding aim is to ensure that while patients are in hospital or having hospital treatment, they are able to access psychological support. Our service provides a full range of therapeutic approaches and we think it will prove to be a very important addition to the care of patients.”
The team see patients on the wards as well as outpatients and various levels of counselling and therapy are available, depending on the needs and wishes of the patients.
Nancy adds:” Mental health and psychological states of mind have a significant effect on the speed and effectiveness of patients’ recovery time, and can also affect a patient’s ability to engage fully in their treatment. Having an illness, injury or medical condition can be a worrying and stressful time for patients and their families. While most people manage with the support of family and friends, some psychological input at these difficult times can help. Specialities such as diabetics, and renal dialysis report non-compliance as a major problem for some of their patients. Assisting the patients to come to accept their condition helps them to participate more fully in their treatment and begin to see a future for themselves.”
The team will work closely with the Department of Mental Health & Learning Disabilities at Anglia Ruskin University, who will be engaged in research to evaluate the newly developing service. They will work in partnership with both Anglia Ruskin University and the North Essex Mental Health Trust which will provide the service with a wide breadth of knowledge, interest and expertise.
ENDS
Media contact : Jo Triggs tel: (01245) 514235 | Mobile : 0790 005 4948
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