Perinatal Mental Health Team
(Lambeth,Southwark & Lewisham):
A guide for referrers
The Perinatal Mental Health Team
The Perinatal Mental Health Team is a multi-disciplinary mental health service for
pregnant and postnatal women with severe and complex mental illness. Women living in
Lambeth, Southwark & Lewisham, and those having their maternity care at St Thomas’
Hospital, King’s College Hospital or University Hospital Lewisham can be referred. The
team aims to detect, prevent and treat perinatal mental health problems. Consequently
we hope to improve the experience of pregnancy and the postpartum period for women
and their families.
Women at risk of relapse following delivery are assessed early in pregnancy to allow
them time to consider the treatment and support options available. The Perinatal Mental
Health Team works collaboratively with women, their families and other professionals, to
plan care for pregnancy and the early postpartum period.
The team also offers preconception advice for women concerned about the implications
of mental illness and medication when planning a pregnancy.
The Perinatal Mental Health Team works jointly with adult mental health services already
providing care for a woman when she becomes pregnant. The team also works in
partnership with maternity services, children and families social services, primary care
and other SLAM mental health services.
REFERRAL CRITERIA
Any professional can refer women having maternity care at St Thomas’ Hospital,
King’s College Hospital or University Hospital Lewisham, or who are residents of
Lambeth, Southwark or Lewisham boroughs. Women can be referred for
preconception counselling, in pregnancy, or up to one year after birth.
1. Referrals are essential for women with current or previous:
 Bipolar Affective Disorder
 Schizophrenia / Schizoaffective disorder
 Previous Postpartum Psychosis
 Severe Depression
 Other psychotic illness
 Family History of Postpartum Psychosis
These women should be referred even if they are currently well
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2. Referrals are also accepted for women with other severe or complex mental
illness. Such problems might include Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Eating
Disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Personality Disorder
3. If a woman is prescribed a mood stabiliser please state this in the referral so that
these women can be prioritised and urgent advice given regarding medication.
4. The service only works with women who cannot effectively be managed in
primary care.
5. If a woman is already under the care of a community mental health team (CMHT)
she should still be referred. The Perinatal Mental Health Team will work jointly
with the CMHT.
6. If the woman is a psychiatric inpatient during pregnancy or the postnatal period
she should be referred so that the Perinatal Mental Health Team can see her
during admission, ensure she has antenatal care if she is pregnant, and that she
is followed up on discharge from the inpatient unit.
7. If substance misuse is the primary problem please refer to the antenatal
substance misuse clinic. The Perinatal Mental Health Team can work jointly with
substance misuse services if the woman also has a severe mental illness.
8. Women under 18 years old can be referred if perinatal mental illness dominates
the clinical picture. In that case women should also be referred to Child and
Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and the Perinatal Mental Health
Team will provide advice to CAMHS.
HOW TO REFER
The attached referral form should be sent by fax, email or post to:
Fax: 020 3299 1550
Email: PerinatalMHS@slam.nhs.uk
Post: Perinatal Mental Health Team
(for Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham)
Department of Psychological Medicine
1st Floor, Cheyne Wing
King’s College Hospital
Denmark Hill
London SE5 9RS
If you would like to discuss the referral the number is: 020 3299 3234
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Once the referral has been accepted the woman will receive a letter to offer an
assessment. This will either be an outpatient appointment with a psychiatrist, or a home
visit by one of the specialist perinatal mental health nurses. A copy of the letter will be
sent to to the referrer (and to the GP if another professional makes the referral). If
assessment is not considered necessary referrers will be offered advice or directed to
other appropriate services.
If there is significant concern about a woman who does not wish to be referred she can
be discussed anonymously for advice.
Out of hours referrals:
The Perinatal Mental Health Team is open from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. For
referrals outside these hours:
 Urgent referrals for maternity inpatients - contact the duty psychiatrist in the hospital.
 Urgent referrals for women in the community - contact the GP or ask the woman to
attend the A&E department.
 Non-urgent referrals – please leave your name and contact details only and we will
phone you.
FURTHER INFORMATION
THE PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH TEAM
The team includes psychiatrists, specialist perinatal mental health nurses, administrators
and a 0.2wte clinical psychologist.
ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT
Outpatient appointments are held at St Thomas’ Hospital, Kings College Hospital and
University Hospital Lewisham. Women can also be seen at home. Initial assessments
are offered within 4 weeks of referral.
Women are also seen on the maternity wards at St Thomas’ and King’s College
Hospitals, either for assessment or to review their care following delivery.
All women will have a care plan reflecting their individual needs. The care plan will be
written collaboratively with the woman. A copy will be sent to her and to all the involved
professionals.
URGENT REFERRALS
The Perinatal Mental Health team cannot offer urgent assessment. Women should see
their GP, CMHT or attend the Accident and Emergency Department if an urgent
assessment is needed. Referrers should also refer to the Perinatal Mental Health Team
who can offer advice during working hours.
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TELEPHONE ADVICE
Clinical staff are available from 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday to discuss:
 potential new referrals
 women known to the Perinatal Mental Health Team
 treatment options for women with less severe mental health problems who may
not meet the criteria for assessment.
PSYCHOLOGICAL THERAPIES
The Perinatal Mental Health Team has a very limited capacity for psychological
therapies. The team will refer women to other psychological therapy services as needed,
including the Perinatal Psychotherapy Service at the Maudsley Hospital.
ADMISSION
If a woman in the third trimester of pregnancy, or the first postnatal year needs
psychiatric admission this should usually be to the Mother & Baby Unit. Please contact
the Channi Kumar Mother & Baby Unit on 020 3228 4265/4255.
DISCHARGE
Women will be discharged to their GP or to another mental health services, depending
on their needs.
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