General Medicine

The general medicine arm of the clinical health psychology team works with people who are struggling with the impact of their physical health upon their lives (typically influencing mood, relationships, activities/work or other areas of life). Psychology input focuses on helping people to live with the impact of their physical health condition, to build on their existing strengths and resources, to explore ways of coping and to learn and practice new strategies.

Input is currently offered individually, with significant others or during multi-disciplinary-led cardiac rehabilitation groups. We plan to expand our group work to other GM specialities in the future. Inpatient work is currently offered for a limited number of cardiology and gastroenterology patients in order to engage the ambivalent or to start psychological interventions when needed.

Please find below information we share with patients about the diabetes support service that is part of our general medicine department.

What is the diabetes support service?

You may have a physical health condition and be wondering how we can help.
We are psychologists who work within medical and surgical teams to provide a holistic approach to health problems. Everyone�s experience of living with a health condition is different. Your health condition might affect you in one or some of these ways:

Feeling distressed, as if you can�t cope with it all
Giving up things you enjoy
Feeling frustrated about how your health condition has affected your life
Having concerns about work or studies
Interference with relationships with partners, family and friends
Worrying or feeling hopeless about the future
Losing your self-confidence
Difficulties with managing your condition or making changes your doctor has recommended

Referrals

Referrals can be made from the below Whittington teams:

Whittington Hospital Teams: Cardiology, Diabetes, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology
Community Teams: Islington Community Diabetes Team, Islington Community Heart Failure team

Referrals can be made by any member of the MDT (i.e. doctors, specialist physiotherapists, nurse specialists, OTs). A referral can also be requested by the patient when meeting with their hospital/community health practitioner.
The practitioner fills in the General Medicine electronic referral form and emails it to the Clinical Health Psychology team.
If the patient feels unable to wait until the next medical appointment, s/he (or someone on their behalf) can contact the pathway coordinator / administrator for the relevant medical team as follows:

The pathway coordinator / administrator can then inform their health professional of this request for a referral. This health professional can then arrange this referral (unless there are clear reasons why s/he thinks this is not appropriate).

General Medicine Psychology Referral Form

Waiting time

On receipt of the referral form, we write to invite people to phone to 'opt in' to the next available appointment slot.

Waiting time from this phone call to first appointment is within four weeks
Waiting time from the first assessment appointment to second therapy appointment is less than 12 weeks
Inpatients are seen within five working days of the referral.