Neuro psychiatrist - help please

forgoodnesssake
forgoodnesssake Online Community Member Posts: 515 Empowering
edited April 2021 in Cerebral Palsy Network
We need to access a specialist neuro psychiatrist (not a psychologist) who knows about the nuances of athetoid CP and mental health/emotional control.  Does anyone have any suggestions please?   GP has supposedly made a referral but that was months ago and I'm not even sure who it was to...someone Manchester or Liverpool.  Thanks

Comments

  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 17,021 Championing
    Hi @forgoodnesssake - I've had a look online, & the only 'slightly' informative reference about neuropsychiartists was actually on a website about Tourettes, which says, 'There are not many neuropsychiatrists in the UK. Most regional neurosciences in the UK should have access to a neuropsychiatrist - there are 27 in the UK.' I presume this relates to the NHS. I have heard good things about the Walton Centre in Liverpool, which might be a possibility: https://www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk/526/neuropsychiatry.html  but that's only been about neurosurgery & neurology.
    Searching for private specialists didn't turn up anyone saying they specialise in CP. I'll ask @Richard_Scope for his help, which will be after the holidays. Please can you help here Richard, thank you.

  • forgoodnesssake
    forgoodnesssake Online Community Member Posts: 515 Empowering
    Thanks very much @chiarieds .  Yes i was aware of the Walton Centre, and also of the dearth of specialist psychs!  I also know about Walkergate Park neuro rehab hospital in  Newcastle but they haven't been able to help with psychiatry
  • Caz_Alumni
    Caz_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 621 Empowering
    Hi @forgoodnesssake

    Sorry to hear that you're having difficulty in locating some help on this. I take your point about there being a dearth of specialists. I've just had a look online to see if I can find out anything more and I've only managed to come up with a similar set of resources to @chiareds. 

    Hopefully though, @Richard_Scope will be able to pick this up and offer some further advice when he is back on the community. 

    In the meantime, can I just take the opportunity to wish you all the best with it. I hope you manage to get something sorted soon. 
  • Richard_Scope
    Richard_Scope Posts: 3,772 Cerebral Palsy Network
    Hi @forgoodnesssake
    I spoke to the Barberry Centre in Birmingham as it is a national centre, they suggested Neuropsychiatry at ULCH. UCLH specialise in Complex Neuropsychiatric conditions occurring in the context of neurological disease ( I did explain that it is not a disease). I have also emailed and left voicemails for the Royal College for Psychiatrists to try to source a list of psychiatrists and their specialisms. I'm awaiting their response.
  • forgoodnesssake
    forgoodnesssake Online Community Member Posts: 515 Empowering
    @Richard_Scope Thanks so much.  I have spoke to the Walton centre and they told me that people cannot be referred straight to the neuropsych; they have to be referred to a neurologist first and then they can refer on if necessary.  But I am pretty sure that a neurologist is not needed: it's specialist psych help.  I have found out that referral from GP was to Dr Hackett, neuro psychiatrist at Salford Royal Hospital, but that was at the end of October and they have heard nothing back so I have asked them to chase it.  In the meantime I am trying to speak to him or his secy to find out if they are the same as the Walton; that the route in is via neurology.
    Where is the access route to what is actually needed, rather than hoop jumping?  Hopefully the royal college can shed some light...even if it has to be down the private route.  Even having a specialist look at the meds he's on to check they are the right ones or to suggest a tweak, or something different...
  • Richard_Scope
    Richard_Scope Posts: 3,772 Cerebral Palsy Network
    I cannot understand the logic of having to have a neurologist refer to neuropsych. I will keep chasing the college until I get somewhere!

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