Programmes And Services
Programmes And Services
St. Patrick's provides a number of programmes and services delivering therapeutic treatment and care to patients. In addition the social work, occupational therapy, clinical psychology and cognitive behavioural therapy departments provide individual and group psychotherapeutic interventions.
Eating Disorder Programme
The Eating Disorder Programme caters for people with both anorexia and bulimia, and consists of an inpatient and day care aspect. It focuses on weight modification, relaxation techniques, self-assertiveness, body image work and dietetics. The programme addresses emotional and psychological problems associated with eating disorders. The programme works closely with voluntary organisations such as Bodywhys. It is staffed with a multidisciplinary team including an Advanced Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS).
Depression Management Programme
This is a three week Programme designed for inpatients and day patients who have been diagnosed with depression. It aims to educate on the causes, varieties and treatments of depression. The programme also aids coping skills with goal-setting and stress management advice. A CNS with Cognitive Therapy training coordinates this programme.
Bipolar Programme
The mission of the bipolar education programme is to provide psycho-education, peer support and facilitate insight for those living with bipolar affective disorder and therefore promote wellbeing and reduce the risk of relapse. A CNS with Cognitive Therapy training coordinates this programme.
Young Adult Programme
The Young Adult Programme caters for those aged 18-24 yrs and treats depression, anxiety, panic disorder, general emotional difficulties or schizophrenia. The emphasis is on group work, collaborative effort and insight generation. While attending the Young Adult Programme, patients can also attend the alcohol, depression or bi-polar disorder programmes or participate in any of the therapeutic activities within the hospital that they may require. A CNS coordinates this programme.
Alcohol Programme
The Alcohol Treatment Programme at St Patrick's Hospital works closely with Alcoholics Anonymous and the adult children of alcoholics (ACOA). Its programme includes didactic lectures, anti-tension training, individual counselling, motivation groups and reality therapy. It provides a closely monitored aftercare programme for 18 months and engages families in the therapeutic process.
Dual Diagnosis Programme
This programme caters for people with alcohol dependence and mood or anxiety disorders. The co-occurrence of alcohol and other drug dependence in people with depression, bipolar and anxiety disorders is quite common and while many such dual conditions were previously managed through the alcohol programme, more recent experience indicates that patients who have been treated for alcohol dependence without significant mental health input, have not had their mental health problems attended to. This programme addresses both aspects of treatment and care.
Anxiety Disorder Programme
The Anxiety Disorder programme was established at St. Patrick's Hospital in April 2005 and caters for people suffering from a wide range of anxiety disorders. It is delivered by a multi-disciplinary team catering for both male and female patients, offering clients a combination of psychiatry, pharmacology, occupational therapy, psychology, cognitive therapy and family therapy to assist them manage the disorder.
Wellness & Recovery Centre (WRC):
The Wellness & Recovery Centre was established in November, 2008, on the campus of St. Patrick's Hospital. The Centre provides access to all of the above clinical programmes and services on a day patient basis, which are covered by all the main health insurers. In addition to the treatment-focused programmes, the WRC offers a 10-day recovery programme to support service users experiencing difficulties reintegrating into both their families and their communities, following a period of ill health or hospitalization. The programme equips service users with the skills and wellness tools required to manage their own mental health and improve their quality of life, in spite of mental health obstacles. Each service produces its own Wellness & Recovery Action Plan as part of the programme.
Psychiatry of Later Life - The Evergreen programme
This programme consists of a unit specialising in the mental health care of the elderly. It focuses mainly on depression and dementia in later life. The programme goals are to facilitate/ restore independence in occupational performance, and to facilitate patients' understanding and management of their illness. Groups have a strong focus on planning for functional independence following discharge and linking to necessary services and outside supports. Components of the programme include: Understanding and Managing Depression & Anxiety in Later Life, Retirement Issues and Goal Planning, Leisure Exploration, Falls Prevention Education and Healthy Movement, Task-based groups, Advanced Relaxation Techniques, Memory Skills (mental aerobics) and Memory compensatory strategies, ADL advice.
Psychosis Recovery
The Psychosis Recovery Programme is a relatively new edition to the services and programmes of St. Patrick's Hospital. It is a three week programme delivered by a multi-disciplinary team which caters for both in-patients and day patients. It is recovery orientated and aims to provide psycho-education around psychosis, recovery strategies and specialist CBT skills to help participants cope with the distressing symptoms of psychosis. Patients receive ongoing assessment and review while on the programme and it is possible to access 1:1CBT delivered by a clinical psychologist experienced in this area.
Memory Clinic
This service is in development and will provide day-patient assessment of patients with memory difficulties and allows for comprehensive investigation and initiation of treatment, where appropriate. It has inputs from neuropsychology, psychiatry, nursing and other mental health disciplines when necessary. A team-based approach to assessment is known to improve diagnostic accuracy. MRI scanning is usually conducted, as is blood testing, ensuring an accurate picture of physical health also. A treatment plan is developed for each patient and techniques to enhance memory performance are discussed with the patient and families, where appropriate.
Mood and Anxiety Programme (St. Edmundsbury)
This programme is facilitated in St. Edmundsbury Hospital and consists of workshops on Anxiety, Depression and Bipolar Affective Disorder, a relationship group, induction group, discharge planning group, CBT lecture series, task assessment group, lifestyle issues, exercise group and stress management.
Occupational therapists work within multidisciplinary teams. The department also facilitate a number of therapeutic groups across all programmes. In addition the department provides general activities including art, crafts, pottery and IT skills.
Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction
This course of treatment can be offered in conjunction with the Anxiety disorders programme. It focuses on Introducing Mindfulness, its origins, key concepts and principles of practice. Techniques that are taught and practiced in group sessions include “raisin exercise”, mindfulness of breath, 3 minute breathing space, ‘coping' breathing space, mindfulness of sounds and thought, and mindful movement.
Clinical Psychology
In addition to clinical psychologists working within multidisciplinary teams, the Clinical Psychology department offers a number of psychotherapeutic interventions such as constructivist, psychoanalytical and cognitive psychotherapy.
Social Work / Family Therapy
This is a highly specialised service provided by extensively trained family therapists where the family interactions and dynamics are explored with a view to enabling the family to unravel difficulties that have presented as a family member becoming ill.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
This programme takes referrals directly from General Practitioners in addition to referrals from hospital based and external psychiatrists. CBT is used to treat many disorders such as anxiety, mood disorder, phobic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. Sessions are generally one-to-one, hour long therapy sessions. More recently a CBT group has been established for the management of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
The Adolescent Service
In line with the five year strategic plan, Mental Health Matters, St. Patrick's will establish a community based and an in-patient mental health service for adolescents between 14 and 18 years of age. The in-patient unit will focus on adolescents with general psychiatric disorders as well as adolescents with eating disorders. A suitable location at St. Patrick's has been identified and plans have been prepared for a 14 bed purpose designed unit. In accordance with national and international best practice and the regulations and Code of Practice of the Mental Health Commission, the in-patient unit will be an entirely separate unit from adult units.
The community based adolescent service is based at the Dean Clinic at Lucan.
The Dean Clinics
The Dean Clinics offer a unique independent sector service to the general population. The service has been designed towards the mental health needs of the community in a multi-disciplinary setting, ensuring the holistic needs of each client are met.
The Dean Clinics provide three levels of care:
- A general adult community multi-disciplinary assessment and treatment service within the Dean Clinics.
- Access to the Wellness & Recovery Centre and specialist treatment programmes within our day care services at St. Patrick's Hospital.
- Access to inpatient care in St. Patrick's Hospital.
Referral Telephone Number: 01-2493535
Support & Information Line
This new telephone support service (a part of the Wellness and Recovery Centre) is available to our service users, the general public and referring health professionals. For service users, it provides easily accessible professional advice, guidance and support in maintenance of their mental health or in managing a crisis in their mental health from the comfort of their own home. For the public in general, it offers information on how to access mental health services nationally and at St Patrick's University Hospital and supports improved public understanding of mental health and illness. For health care professionals, the service provides a useful information resource and a guide to referral services in St Patrick's and St Edmundsbury and in the Dean Clinics. The service is staffed by experienced mental health nurses Monday to Friday with an answering and call-back facility outside hours.
The number of the Support & Information line is (01)2493333.
Clinical Resources
St. Patrick's employs in excess of 330 clinicians (consultant psychiatrists, ward-based nursing staff, Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Social Workers, Family Therapists, Cognitive Therapists, Clinical Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Counsellors) to deliver a wide range of mental health services. These clinicians are employed as part of multi-disciplinary teams to facilitate a holistic approach to the treatment and care of those in psychological or emotional distress.
St. Patricks caters on average, for approximately 2750 inpatient admissions per year along with 3,000 out-patient appointments. With the development of the Dean Clinics (Community Mental Health Centres), St. Patrick's will provide community mental health care to a wider range of people in more accessible locations. The multi-disciplinary approach to mental health care delivery will be continued in these clinics.
Even for the most acutely mentally ill individuals the duration of inpatient care is relatively short - the focus of care and treatment is to return the individual to an active social, personal and work life.
Mindfulness Based Approaches
Mindfulness based approaches are aimed at teaching people a set of skills to help manage daily and ongoing difficulties that present for them, encompassing physical and psychological problems or challenges.