This is an unsettling time. Children and young people who are already experiencing stress and anxiety, can find it especially difficult.
Our aim is to continue to provide a safe, effective and supportive mental health service whilst protecting our patients, their families, staff and our associates.
We are monitoring the developing Coronavirus situation on a daily basis. We are following guidance based on the latest information (March 2020) from the UK Government, World Health Organisation (WHO), General Medical Council, and other professional bodies.
We will be providing our patients with telephone or video-conference appointments to reduce the risk of virus spread.
In exceptional circumstances face to face support continues, and this has been considered, very carefully balancing risk of Coronavirus with the young person’s therapeutic needs. For the small number of patients that are still receiving face to face support, we ask that parents/carers/patients etc please observe the following guidance:
If you have been to a place affected by Coronavirus in the last 14 days, had contact with somebody with Coronavirus, and had any of these symptoms: cough, fever, shortness of breath, please stay at home and use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if you haven’t already.
Please cancel your planned appointment with relevant member of the Child Psychiatry UK team. We will arrange a telephone or video conference appointment in its place.
Where face to face appointments do take place, please be reassured that close attention will be paid to social distancing, hand washing, avoiding hand to face contact, and overall personal hygiene, as per government advice. You must also confirm that as patients and families you adhere to the same practices before and during the meeting.
These are challenging times, but please be reassured that the team at Child Psychiatry UK will be here to support patients and their families safely and appropriately according to their needs.
For more information, please call Nicci Westgarth, Practice Manager, Child Psychiatry UK on 07733 274 522.
18 March 2020
