Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Psychology Service
About us
Our service offers specialist psychological support to patients under the active care of a Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, and their families.
Who do we see?
Our service offers specialist psychological assessment, interventions, and signposting to adults (and their families) who are under the active care of a Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. The impact of plastic and reconstructive surgery varies from person to person. Some people may feel okay and some have concerns about appearance, adjustment, or surgical treatment. Our psychology service is available to help you understand and manage your reactions.
We offer support at all stages of a patient’s plastic surgery journey, which means we may see you before your surgery, and on the ward. After discharge some patients might struggle with low mood, anxiety, or post-surgery adjustments. We can also offer outpatient support after discharge which is provided at Pinderfields Hospital or Dewsbury and District Hospital. We also offer appointments online via video consultation.
Who can be referred?
The service is available to:
- Those who are under the active care of a Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
- Patients over the age of 18 and their families
- Those who provide their consent to the referral.
We will consider those aged 16 and 17 years on a case-by-case basis and will liaise with our paediatric psychology colleagues.
Referral limitations
Occasionally other services may be more appropriate to meet the needs of patients and relatives.
- Where the patient is under the age of 18
- Where psychological problems are unrelated to your Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- If problems relate primarily to longstanding mental health or relationship difficulties and predate your Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- In the presence of severe mental health problems and risk concerns (e.g., active self-harming)
- If the primary problem is current alcohol or drug misuse
- Where severe antisocial/violent/criminal behaviour is an issue
- Where support/counselling is being provided by another service
- Where the primary needs are urgent mental health crisis support
Please note, this is not a crisis service for urgent mental health needs.
If you are feeling at risk to yourself, you are advised to contact your local community mental health crisis team, your GP or local Emergency Department.
Meet the team
What is an appointment with a psychologist like?
Your appointment may be on the ward if you are an inpatient or in clinic or online if you are an outpatient. This could be a short chat or a longer appointment (usually no longer than an hour). We will work together to understand your plastic and reconstructive surgery experience and difficulties and think through what input you would like from the psychologist. You are welcome to have someone there with you for your first appointment. To best meet your needs, we may also direct you to a specialist, community, or charity service if we think they could be of better help. Appointments may be one-off or part of a longer number of sessions. We will agree the number of sessions in your first appointment.
We work closely with the rest of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery team (doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists). It can be helpful for us to keep them updated with how you are using the psychology service, but we will only share this information if you are okay with it. We may also need to share information about you to other services to support your safety and wellbeing but will always seek to discuss this with you first.
Useful links and crisis support
Changing Faces A UK based charity which provides support and advice for anyone with a visible difference.
Mid York’s Clinical Psychology Youtube: A series of psychological tools and exercises.
Talking Turning Point : Mental health workshops and webinars (both online and in person). For residents of Wakefield or within the Five Towns (Castleford, Featherstone, Knottingley, Normanton and Pontefract) and registered with a local GP.
Koalaa : Information and resources about limb difference for adults and children.
Macmillian Cancer Support — Breast reconstruction: Information about breast reconstruction.
Crisis support
Samaritans or call 116 123 for free.
Shout offers confidential 24/7 crisis text support: text ‘SHOUT’ to 85248.
Mind Infoline: where to get help near you: 0300 123 3393
If you are in crisis and cannot keep yourself safe, ring 999 or go to your nearest A&E.
Contact information
Address: Pinderfields Hospital
Opening days and time: Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm.
Telephone: 01924 541510
Acknowledgements
The information on this page has been reviewed by the Every Voice Matters (EVM) group. EVM is a patient experience group of current and former psychology patients who want to make a difference in the psychology department - and in wider areas too. To find out more about our EVM group please see: tiny.cc/EVM