Health Psychology Service for young people with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders
This leaflet provides you with information about our service, how we can help you and how to contact us. What is the Health Psychology Service (HPS) for transition? The HPS is part of the haemophilia transition service which provides support for young people with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders moving from the children s to the adult hospital. Health Psychology Service for young people with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders The HPS offers a variety of services for young people (from age 12 to 18) with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders, as well as their family members. These services are led by health psychologists as part of the package of care offered in the haemophilia centre for the transition service. Psychologists are trained healthcare professionals who help people to manage their emotional concerns over a specific period of time. They do not prescribe medications. 2
How can HPS help me? The psychologists can provide support and help you to: learn to live with haemophilia/a bleeding disorder learn to become independent and take responsibility for your treatment improve coping strategies cope with your treatment deal with school or college pressure cope with peer pressure deal with sexual concerns deal with emotional problems (such as fear, anxiety, sadness, depression, anger) deal with family and relationship problems cope with hospital admissions improve memory and concentration problems. How does the service work? You will meet the psychologist when you are invited to your transition outpatient clinic or when you are an inpatient. If you would like help and support from the psychologist, we will carry out an initial assessment to understand your needs. We will offer you one-to-one support on a weekly basis or as you request, either via telephone or face-toface. You can ask your consultant haematologist, transition specialist nurse, school, your GP or your parents to refer you to the HPS service. You can also contact the service yourself. 3
What is transition? It is the planned move of young people from the children s hospital to adult hospital. As you mature from childhood to adulthood, you outgrow the expertise of children s health services and need to find an appropriate adult health provider. This is very important because you have a chronic health condition that requires ongoing treatment. The transition team will provide you with the support to move to adult services. They will help you to fulfil your maximum potential in terms of health, wellbeing and development. How will the transition team help me? The transition team will help you to: receive individual and specific transition programmes get to know the adult team have your questions answered improve your independence prevent and deal with concerns of parents. Ways to help you Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) One important way to help you is through the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). 4
In CBT the psychologist helps you to look at the problems you are experiencing and search for solutions. It helps you look at how your thoughts, beliefs, emotions and behaviour are linked. CBT focuses particularly on positive life skills, including: accepting your physical condition and limitations identifying your strengths, talents and weaknesses improving your self-confidence and self-esteem learning to put yourself in control of your illness understanding how your behaviour may affect your health and life. The diagram explains how your thoughts and beliefs can affect your behaviour. 5
The transition team The key members of the adolescent transition team are: Dr Jayanthi Alamelu, consultant haematologist Dr Nicky Veronica Thomas, consultant health psychologist Mina Abedian, health psychologist Helen Greensmith, paediatric network nurse manager Their role is to help you and your family to work out your healthcare management goals and what support you need to reach them. Contact details If you have any questions or concerns, please contact: Dr Nicky Veronica Thomas, consultant health psychologist and head of service t: 020 7188 2725 or e: nicky.thomas@gstt.nhs.uk Dr Heather Rawle, clinical health psychologist t: 020 7188 2718 e:heather.rawle@gstt.nhs.uk Mina Abedian, health psychologist t: 020 7188 2718 or e: mina.abedian@gstt.nhs.uk Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. 6
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Contact us Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) To make comments or raise concerns about the Trust s services, please contact PALS. Ask a member of staff to direct you to the PALS office or: t: 020 7188 8801 at St Thomas t: 020 7188 8803 at Guy s e: pals@gstt.nhs.uk Knowledge & Information Centre (KIC) For more information about health conditions, support groups and local services, or to search the internet and send emails, please visit the KIC on the Ground Floor, North Wing, St Thomas Hospital. t: 020 7188 3416 Language support services If you need an interpreter or information about your care in a different language or format, please get in touch using the following contact details. t: 020 7188 8815 fax: 020 7188 5953 NHS Choices Provides online information and guidance on all aspects of health and healthcare, to help you make choices about your health. w: www.nhs.uk 8 Leaflet number: 3051/VER3 Date published: December 2013 Review date: December 2016 2013 Guy s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust