The Perinatal & Infant Mental Health Team (PNIMHT) will provide specialist mental health assessment, care and treatment for pregnant and postnatal women in the Tayside catchment area, who are experiencing (or are at risk of developing) moderate to severe perinatal mental illness.
The perinatal period covers from conception up until the infant is 12months old. We aim to work in partnership with women, their partners and families and other professionals involved in women’s care, to provide the best possible holistic care and early intervention to ensure the best possible outcomes for women, their infants and families. We aim to work flexibly across Tayside and will offer appointments with women via video consultation (“Near Me”), telephone or face-to-face in clinics in their locality or home visits, based upon individual needs and preferences.
Perinatal Mental Health Service
Who is in the Team?
We are a multi-disciplinary team, currently comprising of; a full-time Team Leader, Consultant Psychiatrist (0.5wte), Consultant Psychologist (0.2wte) and an Administrator (0.8wte), who are to be located within our temporary Hub based at Royal Victoria Hospital, Dundee.
We also have three full-time PNIMH nurses who are based within existing CMHT bases, with 1 nurse assigned to cover each locality in Dundee, Angus and Perth & Kinross.
We aim to recruit an additional Psychologist in the next few months and we also hope to expand the team by providing Occupational Therapy and Peer Support in the future. We are also in the early stages of designing the development of a specialised Infant Mental Health Service for children up to age 3y and the hope is the team and the services we deliver will expand.
We also have three full-time PNIMH nurses who are based within existing CMHT bases, with 1 nurse assigned to cover each locality in Dundee, Angus and Perth & Kinross.
We aim to recruit an additional Psychologist in the next few months and we also hope to expand the team by providing Occupational Therapy and Peer Support in the future. We are also in the early stages of designing the development of a specialised Infant Mental Health Service for children up to age 3y and the hope is the team and the services we deliver will expand.
Who should be considered for referral?
- Women experiencing Bipolar Disorder/ Postpartum Psychosis, other Psychoses and Serious Affective Disorder, who can be safely managed in the community.
- Women with severe non-psychotic conditions.
- Women identified in pregnancy who are at risk of a recurrence/relapse of a psychotic illness or serious/complex non-psychotic condition (includes women who are currently unwell and those who are well but at risk of becoming unwell).
- Women requiring pre-conception counselling where previous family history (1st line relative) of severe mental illness esp. Bipolar Affective Disorder, Psychotic illness, Severe Affective Disorder, Post-Partum Psychosis.
- Women following discharge from an inpatient/Mother and Baby Unit admission.
The team will also accept referrals for:
- Women with moderate mental health problems whose needs cannot be effectively managed by primary care services.
- Women with alcohol/substance misuse problems, if there is also (or suspected) moderate to severe mental illness.
How to refer
The preferred referral route from primary care is electronically via SCI Gateway - the service is listed under Perinatal & Infant Mental Health Service. This is for routine or urgent referrals.
In cases of emergency/crisis referral, please contact us to discuss on PNIMHT telephone 07971 981882.
The Tayside PNIMHT will accept direct referrals from Midwives/Obstetricians, GPs, Health Visitors/Family Nurses, CMHT colleagues, Primary Care Psychology, In-Patients, CRHTT and other health professionals that may be involved in women’s care in the perinatal period. If SCI Gateway referral is unavailable, referral forms are available on Staffnet.
Completed PNIMHT referral forms can be sent to our generic email address at TAY.perinatalinfantMHT@nhs.scot (our email is checked regularly Mon-Fri 9-5) or posted to: PNIMHT, Bay B, Ward 1 , Royal Victoria Hospital, Jedburgh Road, Dundee,DD2 1SP (if electronic referral not possible).
We cannot unfortunately accept self-referrals from women and we would encourage women who have concerns regarding their mental wellbeing to discuss this with their Midwife/HV/GP or other healthcare professional, in the first instance who can signpost/refer them to the appropriate support service(s).
In cases of emergency/crisis referral, please contact us to discuss on PNIMHT telephone 07971 981882.
The Tayside PNIMHT will accept direct referrals from Midwives/Obstetricians, GPs, Health Visitors/Family Nurses, CMHT colleagues, Primary Care Psychology, In-Patients, CRHTT and other health professionals that may be involved in women’s care in the perinatal period. If SCI Gateway referral is unavailable, referral forms are available on Staffnet.
Completed PNIMHT referral forms can be sent to our generic email address at TAY.perinatalinfantMHT@nhs.scot (our email is checked regularly Mon-Fri 9-5) or posted to: PNIMHT, Bay B, Ward 1 , Royal Victoria Hospital, Jedburgh Road, Dundee,DD2 1SP (if electronic referral not possible).
We cannot unfortunately accept self-referrals from women and we would encourage women who have concerns regarding their mental wellbeing to discuss this with their Midwife/HV/GP or other healthcare professional, in the first instance who can signpost/refer them to the appropriate support service(s).
Alternatives to referral
If a clinician requires additional information or wishes to discuss making a referral, please do not hesitate to contact us on 07971 981882 or via our email TAY.perinatalinfantMHT@nhs.scot
Additional information
Further information for staff, including Information Leaflets about the PNIMHT for Women and Families and Referrers, Referral Guidance, Referral Eligibility Criteria and our Referral Form are available on the Perinatal Mental Health Webpage under “P” on our Websites.
Further information for the public is available on the NHST public facing website.
This includes our information leaflets, information about mental health conditions in the perinatal period, self-help information and links to a variety of different support services for women and families.
Further information for the public is available on the NHST public facing website.
This includes our information leaflets, information about mental health conditions in the perinatal period, self-help information and links to a variety of different support services for women and families.