This is an in-patient service, which aims to treat women who are suffering from mental health problems in the postnatal period, whilst facilitating bonding with the baby.
Who is the service for?
- Women who experience emotional or psychiatric difficulties
- Women who have a baby under the age of 1 year
There is a reasonable likelihood that the mother will be able to care for the baby in the community following discharge
Aims of the service:
- To provide a comprehensive multi-disciplinary assessment and treatment following admission
- To help mothers develop parenting skills and facilitate bonding
- To provide a therapeutic programme to meet the needs of mothers and infants
The integrated therapeutic programme includes:
- Regular reviews by medical staff
- Review of nursing care plans
- Psychotherapy group and where appropriate, individual sessions
- Art Psychotherapy group and where appropriate, individual sessions
- Family/couple therapy
- Occupational therapy group
- Parenting skills group
- Baby massage
- Fathers’ groups
- Community meetings
- Health visitors' clinic
- Evening cooking rota for mothers
- Current affairs
- Community assessment
- Road safety awareness
How the service works
The unit accepts referrals from:
- Social workers
- Psychiatrists
- Obstetricians
- Primary care professionals
It is necessary for the local responsible psychiatrist to be involved in the referral process. In most cases we can admit urgently if the information provided by the referrer suggests that this is appropriate.
We can process a referral more quickly if all appropriate background information is given to us at the time of referral
Admissions can be arranged, subject to need and bed availability. If no bed is available, the mother’s name will go on a waiting list.
In some cases we may need to gather more information or to carry out a pre-admission assessment before deciding whether to admit.
For full details on how to make a referral please visit the Referrals page.