Health Psychology at Hillingdon Hospital
Managing the psychological impact of being ill, being hospitalised or coping with intense or long-term treatments is complicated and difficult. Most people manage these challenges with their own resilience, the support of family & friends and the guidance of their GP & healthcare team. Some people will also need input with the particular expertise of clinical health psychology (health psychology).
Our purpose is to provide specialist psychological expertise for people under the care of Hillingdon Hospital specialties, guiding them towards coping with medical conditions and treatments, and recovering their psychosocial wellbeing and quality of life. We aim to link patients with appropriate psychological support during and beyond their contact with the Hillingdon Hospital teams, by coordinating with other psychological support providers when needed - guiding people towards the most appropriate care for their specific needs.
Podcast - what we do
Meet the team
Our department includes psychologists and allied health professionals who work in the hospital within and alongside several clinical teams.
Cancer and Palliative Care Psychology
The Macmillan cancer and palliative care psychology clinic provides psychological assessment, therapy and support to patients with cancer or other life-limiting conditions, and their carers. We work alongside cancer services and the specialist palliative care team within Hillingdon Hospital, as well as the Hillingdon community palliative care team.
Referrals to this clinic are typically initiated by clinical nurse specialists and other health professionals, but self-referrals can be considered on a case-by-case basis. For information about this clinic, please email Dr Heather Wells, consultant clinical psychologist on cnw-tr.HillingdonOPCCP@nhs.net.
Hillingdon Macmillan Psychological Support Service in Oncology and Palliative Care.
Chronic Pain Self-Management Programme
This is a programme delivered by a multidsciplinary team, designed to provide guidance for people who are experiencing chronic pain and want to learn how to cope and function despite the persistent pain.
Referral to this programme is via GP and community or hospital pain services, within the scope of the NWL referral criteria.
For information about this programme, please email Lee Strain, specialist pain physiotherapist, on thh.hillingdonhospitalpmp@nhs.net.
For inquiries relating to the chronic pain management clinics and department, please email: thh-tr.hillingdon-chronicpainteam@nhs.net.
Cross-Specialty Clinic
This clinic welcomes referrals for people who may benefit from psychological guidance to help them manage their illness, treatments and recovery more effectively.
Referral to this clinic is from any specialty clinic or MDT within Hillingdon Hospital, including medical, specialist nursing and allied health professionals.
For information about this clinic, please email Dr Alex King, consultant clinical psychologist, on thh.healthpsychology@nhs.net.
Gynaecology and Maternity
This clinic welcomes referrals from consultants in obstetrics and gynaecology, specialist nurses and midwives, and pelvic health physiotherapy, at Hillingdon Hospital.
In gynaecology, the focus is on specialist psychological input to support coping with and adjusting to ongoing gynaecological conditions, related mental health concerns, psychological wellbeing and quality of life.
In maternity (obstetrics), the focus is on input to cope with health conditions that compromise pregnancy, severe anxiety impacting on pregnancy or perinatal loss.
For information about this clinic please email Dr Sarah Finnis, clinical psychologist, on thh.obgpsychology@nhs.net.
Intensive Care Unit
An episode of critical illness is usually a frightening and distressing time for both patients and relatives. Critical care psychology at Hillingdon Hospital focuses on supporting ICU patients and their relatives during the acute phase, and initial step-down to the wards.
For psychological difficulties arising after ICU and hospital discharge, such as post-traumatic stress, people can self-refer to their local talking therapies service, or speak to their GP for additional options.
The Hillingdon talking therapies service can be reached at https://talkingtherapies.cnwl.nhs.uk/hillingdon
Our department
Greenacres, Hillingdon Hospital, Uxbridge UB8 2BF.
Telephone: 01895 279049 and 279374
Email: thh.healthpsychology@nhs.net
Sally Lonsdale-Byne and Manisha Chowdhury are our department administrators and can assist with information, directions and appointment bookings.
We do not hold an out-of-hours, urgent or emergency response function. For acute mental health concerns for inpatients, please communicate with the Hospital Liaison Psychiatry Team. For acute mental health concerns for outpatients, call 0800 0234 650 or NHS 111.