A-Z of Services
Clinical Health & Neuropsychology Services
- About us
- Clinical Neuropsychology Rehabilitation Service
- Community Stroke Rehabilitation Team (Neuropsychology)
- Acute Stroke Neuropsychology
- Cancer Psychological Support (CaPS) Service
- Community Diabetes Psychology Service
About us
Physical health conditions, illnesses and injury can affect many areas of life and it is widely recognised that they can have a significant emotional and psychological impact on individuals, carers and families. We aim to help reduce distress and improve the psychological wellbeing of individuals by enabling an improved understanding of the factors that cause, maintain and worsen psychological issues linked to physical health problems. This includes the careful consideration of how a health condition or injury may impact on emotional and psychological wellbeing.
Our clinical & neuro psychologists work in both acute hospital, outpatient and community settings and offer specialist psychological assessment and evidence-based treatment of psychological difficulties directly related to physical health conditions.
We also work closely with health, mental health and social care colleagues both within and across different hospital and community settings. This includes working closely with multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) to ensure that the psychological needs of patients with physical health conditions are met.
We have clinical and neuro psychologists working in the specialist areas of:
- Acute Stroke
- Clinical Neuropsychology Rehabilitation
- Community Stroke Rehabilitation
- Cancer Psychological Support
- Diabetes
- Post Covid
- Neonatal
Please note we are not an emergency mental health service. We are unable to respond to any urgent mental health concerns. If you are in crisis, please contact your GP, the crisis team on 0800 731 2864, or please attend your local A&E Service.
Clinical Neuropsychology Rehabilitation Service
Our Team:
Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist, Clinical Psychologist and Couple Therapist: Dr Ndidi Boakye
Chartered Clinical Psychologist: Dr Sofia Robleda
Assistant Psychologist & Trainee Clinical Psychologists
About Us
The Neuropsychology Service provides a service for people over 18 years (or 16+ and not in full-time education) that have had a recent diagnosis/change in circumstances (e.g. going back to work) following:
- Stroke
- Traumatic & Acquired Brain Injury
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Epilepsy
- Other identified acquired neurological disorders with an organic basis.
We mainly see patients at our community clinic in Broad Green Centre, although concessions may be made if mobility is severely impacted and/or patients are unable to access the Croydon transport services. In such cases, we will consider a home visit.
Our Services:
Mood / Neuropsychological Assessment
A comprehensive needs assessment, which may also include a full neuropsychological assessment (an assessment of thinking, memory, concentration and other cognitive functions). A neuropsychological assessment typically takes two to three hours and a full report is provided.
Cognitive Rehabilitation
In order to enable you to live with, manage, and/or come to terms with changes that occur following a neurological condition, we will work with you to identify goals and create a tailor-made programme to support you to improve your everyday functioning and independence.
Psychological Support
The Clinical Neuropsychology Service can offer up to six to eight specialist psychotherapy sessions to treat depression and/or anxiety which has developed as a result of their condition and/or support when there are difficulties with adjustment to their neurological condition and/or brain injury.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Brain injuries often occur alongside post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or PTSD symptoms. We offer EMDR therapy to help process traumatic memories associated with the brain injury, as well as the overall impact of injury on one’s life.
Family & Couple Work
We are aware of the devastating impact neurological conditions and brain injuries can have on families and loved ones. As such, we also offer family and couple work. This may include couples therapy, supporting your family to understand your condition, and/or signposting to support services available.
Who can be referred?
Referral Criteria
The service accepts referrals of people who:
- Are registered with a Croydon GP and live in or very near to the London Borough of Croydon
- Are over 16 years of age and not in full time education
- Have a neurological diagnosis of an acquired disorder with an organic basis (we are not funded for Functional Neurological Disorder)
- Have an identified difficulty or need directly arising from the neurological disorder
- Are able to attend appointments at the Broad Green Centre (on occasion home visits are possible but transport is not funded for psychology appointments unless the person is currently being seen by the CNRS)
- Are not able to function within the demands of their lifestyle and further neuropsychological rehabilitation is both desirable and possible.
- Are medically stable
The service is not able to accept referrals for people who:
- Have a condition currently resulting in ongoing cognitive deterioration
- Have a condition with onset some years ago, who had rehabilitation and there has been no recent change in need
- Need psychiatric evaluation or treatment
- Have significant or acute mental health difficulties
- Have marked behavioural disturbance
- Are unable to communicate (interpreters are available)
- Have such marked cognitive difficulties that they would be unable to access therapy
- Are currently abusing alcohol or drugs
- Have psychological needs not related to their neurological condition
Referrals:
Referrals can be made via email by any healthcare or allied health professional (i.e., GP, neurologist, psychiatrist, social worker, nurse, etc).
Please complete the referral form and send it to CH-TR.neuropsychology@nhs.net.
Patients are contacted within two weeks of receipt of a referral with the outcome of their referral.
Contact details:
Email: CH-TR.neuropsychology@nhs.net
Telephone: 020 8274 6492
Address: Broad Green Centre, 1 -13 Lodge Road, Croydon, CR0 2PD
Opening hours: 09:00 – 17:00 Monday to Friday
Community Stroke Rehabilitation Team (Neuropsychology)
Clinicians:
Dr Suzanne Haddad (Lead Principal Clinical)
Francesca Morreale (Clinical Psychologist)
Assistant Psychologist
Trainee Clinical Psychologists
About Us
Neuropsychology are integrated within the Croydon Stroke Rehabilitation Team (CSRT), providing a service for stroke survivors and their families in need of neuropsychological intervention.
CSRT provide rehabilitation and advice in the community to patients who have been discharged from hospital following a stroke and is a short term service (up to 6 weeks).
The team consists of
- Occupational Therapists
- Physiotherapists
- Speech and language Therapists
- Stroke Nurse
- Therapy Practitioner
- Stroke Rehabilitation Assistants
- Clinical Neuropsychology
We provide a holistic, person-centred integrated service with the MDT towards achieving patient goals and positive outcomes after stroke.
The service is for people over 18 who have a diagnosis of acute stroke (within the last 3 months). Patients are typically seen at home, video consultations or at the Broad Green Centre, Monday – Friday).
Our Services:
Initial Assessment
Following a referral to neuropsychology, we will meet with you for an initial assessment to understand how the cognitive, emotional and behavioural changes following your stroke are affected you. During the assessment we will discuss with you typical treatment options that can be provided, which are as followed.
Cognitive Assessment and Rehabilitation
We may complete a cognitive assessment (an assessment of thinking, memory, concentration and other cognitive functions). This assessment typically takes two hours and a report is provided.
Depending on your needs, we may also provide cognitive rehabilitation to enable you to live with, manage, and/or come to terms with changes that occur following a stroke. We will work with you alongside other members of your CSRT treating team to identify goals and create a tailor-made programme to support you to improve your everyday functioning and independence.
Psychological Support
Following an initial assessment, we can offer up to five sessions of specialist psychotherapy sessions to treat depression and/or anxiety which has developed as a result of your stroke /or support when there are difficulties with adjustment to your stroke.
Family Work
We are aware of the devastating impact strokes can have on families and loved ones. As such, we also offer family work. This may include couples work, supporting your family to understand your condition, and/or signposting to support services available.
Referral Criteria
The CSRT service is for people over 18 who have a diagnosis of acute stroke (within the last 3 months) and meet the following criteria:
- Have a Croydon GP
- Have sufficient informal or formal carer support to be safe to live at home
- Medically stable
- Consent and are willing to participate in neuropsychological rehabilitation
- Should be able to call for help or have 24 hour supervision in place
- Able to transfer with the assistance of one person
- Therapy needs identified
- Equipment in place prior to discharge home
- Care package to be in place prior to discharge home
- (if applicable)
- Able to self-medicate/have blister packs or manage with assistance from carer
Referrals:
Referrals to CSRT can be made by email by any healthcare or allied health professional (i.e., GP, neurologist, psychiatrist, social worker, nurse, etc) via the CSRT Duty desk. You may also be referred to us by a member of your treating CSRT team.
Referrals by healthcare or allied health professionals are made by completing the referral form attached and send it to mhn-tr.csrtadmin@nhs.net.
Contact details:
Email: mhn-tr.csrtadmin@nhs.net
Telephone: 0208 401 3717
Address: Broad Green Centre, 1 -13 Lodge Road, Croydon, CR0 2PD
Opening hours: 9 – 5pm Monday – Friday
Acute Stroke Neuropsychology
Our Team:
Lead Clinical Neuropsychologist - Dr Laura Bach
Assistant Psychologist & Trainee Clinical Psychologists
About Us
The Neuropsychology Service provides a service for inpatients with stroke and their families on the Acute Stroke Unit. We work as part of an integrated specialist neurorehabiltation multidisciplinary team which also includes, doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, Speech and language therapists, and dietitians. We provide a holistic, person-centred integrated service with the MDT towards achieving patient goals and positive outcomes after stroke.
Our Services:
Neuropsychological Assessment and Intervention
Neuropsychological assessment (an assessment of thinking, memory, concentration and other cognitive functions) is routinely conducted in order to identify cognitive strengths and weaknesses post stroke to inform rehabilitation needs. Interventions for cognitive impairments include provision of psychoeducation, insight raising and cognitive compensatory strategies
Mood and Adjustment Assessment and Intervention
We provide assessment and intervention for mood and adjustment difficulties following stroke. Interventions models include CBT, and value based therapies of ACT, Compassion Focused Therapy, and third wave Narrative therapies. We also deliver group based interventions including Mindfulness group and a Psychoeducation/Peer Support group.
Systemic Family & Couple Work
We are aware of the devastating impact neurological conditions and brain injuries can have on families and loved ones. As such, we also offer family and couple work. This may include couples therapy, supporting your family to understand you and your condition, and/or signposting to support services available.
Who can be referred?
Referral Criteria
The service accepts referrals of people who:
- Are over 16 years of age
- Inpatient on the Acute Stroke Unit, CUH
Referrals:
Referrals are made via the Acute Stroke Unit MDT email by any healthcare or allied health professional (i.e., GP, neurologist, psychiatrist, social worker, nurse, etc).
Cancer Psychological Support (CaPS) Service
Clinicians
Our Team:
Lead Clinical Psychologist – Dr Anna Sandall
Psychotherapist – Vanessa Richards
Psychotherapist – Alex Khan
Dramatherapist – Hannah Tottenham
About Us
We understand that a cancer diagnosis can feel like an emotional rollercoaster. We are here to support you from diagnosis, through treatment and beyond.
Our experienced clinicians specialise in helping people affected by cancer. We offer up to eight free one to one therapy sessions to help you cope with how you are feeling as well as offering practical advice and support. Sessions are confidential and typically one hour long. Face to face appointments are held at Croydon University Hospital where we are based and we can also offer video or telephone appointments. We are also able to support people whilst in hospital.
Our Services:
Sessions typically focus on helping you to talk about your thoughts and feelings, and finding effective ways of coping with the emotional impacts of the cancer. After treatment, it can be challenging adjusting to the many changes you have faced and we will support you to adjust and move forward with your life. We also offer brief couples therapy for issues directly related to cancer, as well as therapy groups for people with specific needs.
Typical issues we help with are:
- Making sense of your diagnosis and support with decision making about treatment
- Anxiety and depression, or feelings of anger
- How to talk to others including children about cancer
- Living with uncertainty in your present and future
- Understanding and recovering from traumatic experiences
- Managing the demands of home and family life while caring for yourself
- Adjusting to change and feelings of loss and grief
- Feeling unhappy about changes in the way you look
- Coping with pain, discomfort, fatigue and treatment side-effects
- Coping with how cancer affects your relationships and/or sexual functioning
- Coping with how cancer affects self-esteem and sense of self
- Navigating end-of-life issues
- Managing complex mental health issues alongside cancer
- Initiating and/or reviewing psychiatric medication
Who can be referred?
Referral Criteria
The service is open to anyone over 18 years, living in Croydon and is affected by cancer. We are able to support carers and family members as well as people with cancer. We see people at any stage, from diagnosis, treatment and afterwards.
Referrals:
Croydon health professionals can refer by completing this form here and emailing it to us at ch-tr-cuhcaps@nhs.net . Please note we require the patient/carers’ consent in order to process a referral. We are happy to discuss potential referrals.
Patients are contacted within 7 days weeks of receipt of a referral with the outcome of their referral.
We accept self-referrals both in person at the Macmillan Centre at Croydon University Hospital or by phone/email.
Contact details:
Email: ch-tr.cuhcaps@nhs.net
Telephone: 0208 401 3345
Address: Croydon University hospital, 530 London Road, Croydon CR7 7YE
Opening hours: 9 – 5pm Monday – Friday
Community Diabetes Psychology Service
Our Team
The Diabetes Psychology Service provides psychological input for people managing the impact of diabetes and/or challenges surrounding diabetes management. The service is part of the wider Integrated Diabetes Service (Acute and Community), a multidisciplinary team supporting people to live independently with diabetes in Croydon consisting of Consultant Diabetologists, Diabetes Specialist Nurses (DSNs), Diabetic Specialist Dietitians and a Clinical Psychologist.
About Us
The Diabetes Psychology Service supports people with a diagnosis of diabetes aged over 18 years registered with a GP in Croydon. The clinic offers psychological therapy sessions face-to-face (based in health centres in the borough) as well as remotely, via virtual platform Attend Anywhere. The service aims to help people improve their confidence, motivation and skills in managing their physical and mental health through better understanding of the impact of their diabetes and developing strategies to manage this.
Our Services
The service offers specialist psychological assessment and intervention for people experiencing distress surrounding living with diabetes (e.g. adapting to lifestyle changes such as diet, physical activity, checking blood glucose, taking medication) as well as people finding their mood or social circumstances are impacting on their diabetes self-care. The service offers 4-12 sessions of psychological therapy via a number of models. These include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), mindfulness and compassion-focussed approaches. Support can be accessed 1:1 or as part of a group.
Referral Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Adults aged 18 or over with a diagnosis of diabetes
- People already known to CDS, registered with a Croydon GP or who live in Croydon but not registered with a GP elsewhere
- People experiencing problems with their emotional wellbeing which is affecting their diabetes management or as direct result of their diabetes diagnosis/treatment.
Problems may include:
- Low/depressed mood
- Diabetes distress
- Anxiety/worry
- Disordered eating
- Issues with adjustment to lifestyle changes/medication, low motivation to change behaviour
- People who are willing to engage with psychological therapy and can attend regularly
- People whose needs may be too complex for IAPT
Exclusion Criteria
- Inpatients
- People referred for/already accessing psychological therapy elsewhere
- i.e. SLaM services such as CMHT, CIPTS, Psychiatric Liaison, Assessment and Liaison (A&L); Touchstone, Turning Point, private therapy services
- People who are not aware of/have not consented to referral to psychology
- People currently under the influence of substances such as drugs or alcohol
- Patients in a crisis (Please see crisis information) or experiencing mental health problems unrelated to diabetes
- If the person you are referring does not meet criteria for this service, please consider a referral for psychological support via another mental health service. For example, Croydon Talking therapies (IAPT), drug and alcohol support or specialist eating disorder services. Thank you
Referrals:
Referrals can be made by email by any healthcare or allied health professional (i.e., GPs, practice nurses, psychologists, psychological therapists, care coordinators, psychiatrists, social workers etc.) Please complete the referral form (also can be found on Emis) and send it to our Admin team ch-tr.croydondiabetes@nhs.net to make a referral. Accepted referrals will be contacted to inform them they have been added to the waiting list for assessment.
Contact details
Main contact: Dr Gemma Knight, Clinical Psychologist
Email: ch-tr.croydondiabetes@nhs.net
Telephone: 0208 401 3414
Address: Community Diabetes Psychology Service, Croydon University Hospital, 530 London Road, Croydon, CR7 7YE
Opening hours: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays (pm)