Referrals to this unit
We are able to offer face to face or telephone / video CBT for those who can’t travel to the hospital regularly.
For patients
If you wish to be referred to the unit, please contact your GP. Eligibility for treatment will partly depend on the funding arrangements between your Primary Care Trust (PCT) and our unit. Some PCTs require that referrals are made by a consultant, but in most cases a GP referral is appropriate.
At your first assessment we will try to work out what is wrong and will consider with you management options.
Investigations:
Please send copies of the following investigations (which should be carried out within 2 months of referral) together with the referral letter to the address below:
All patients: FBC, ESR or CRP, U & Es, LFT, calcium, albumin, creatine kinase, thyroid function tests (TSH and free T4), local coeliac screen (e.g. IgA endomysial autoantibodies), random blood glucose, urinalysis for blood, glucose and protein.
Can be helpful: EBV serology, Chest X-ray, Rheumatoid factor, ANF, CMV, toxoplasmosis, HIV serology.
Referrals for adult patients:
Unit Administrator
Persistent Physical Symptoms Research and Treatment Unit
Mapother House, 1st Floor
De Crespigny Park
Denmark Hill
London SE5 8AZ
Website:
https://slam.nhs.uk/service-detail/service/persistent-physical-symptoms-research-and-treatment-unit-278/
What to expect after referral
When we receive your referral we will read the referral letter to see whether we think we might be able to help you. We will also check whether our unit has suitable funding arrangements with your Primary Care Trust. If both of these conditions are met, you will be offered an appointment to come to the unit for assessment.
Your first assessment will be with one of our doctors or senior cognitive behaviour therapists. It may last up to 1 and a half hours, but you are free to stop the assessment at any time or have a break in the middle if you wish. The purpose of the assessment is to ascertain the nature of your difficulties and together agree whether you might benefit from treatment at our Unit.
If we think that you might benefit from cognitive behaviour therapy, you will be offered an appointment with a cognitive behaviour therapist or clinical psychologist. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) involves sessions lasting about 50 minutes, which usually take place fortnightly.