Out-patient Care
In order to receive out-patient care, patients only visit the Clinic’s external practice when they have a face-to-face appointment with their consulting psychiatrist or therapist. They attend the appointment and then leave. This is in contrast to in-patient treatment, where the patient spends their time as anAX Clinic resident, or day care, where a patient spends the whole day with us for appointments, group therapy and other activities.
AX Clinic has several psychiatrists and other mental health professionals working on out-patient treatment. This means that we can make sure that your treatment is provided by someone who has the necessary skills and experience for the specific condition you suffer from.
Like our in-patient services, out-patient services are offered only to adults. AX Clinic’s practice is housed separately from the in-patient facilities.
Out-patient services are suitable for patients who require a lower level of support than our in-patients. Out-patients can see a consultant as often as weekly or as infrequently as every three or even six months.
Initially, most patients are seen by a psychiatrist who oversees the patient’s care and has clinical responsibility. He may prescribe medication or recommend talking therapies as part of the treatment plan. If talking therapies are recommended, the psychiatrist will refer the patient to a psychologist or psychotherapist who is able to provide the necessary support. It is common for a patient to see both a therapist and their psychiatrist throughout the course of their treatment.
Referral for out-patient treatment
Most of our referrals come from the patient’s personal psychiatrist, GP or psychologist. We also accept referrals from company health departments or company doctors when a patient is referred under an employee assistance programme. Please click on the link below for full details of referrals:
Arrange a Consultation *
We can also accept patients who self-refer for treatment and we do our best to respond quickly to all patients who need our support. However, we would normally expect to work closely with the patient’s personal doctor and family to ensure they are aware of any treatment or care a patient is undergoing. We may also need information about the patient’s medical history. This is to ensure that we can deliver the patient’s treatment safely and effectively.
Availability of appointments
Most of our clinicians do not work exclusively at AX Clinic. Many of them continue to practice privately. Therefore, an individual clinician may not be available every day of the week. Most doctors are able to offer appointments in the evenings, although availability is usually limited. Similarly, some doctors are able to offer appointments at weekends.
We can send text messages to remind you of appointments that you have booked. If patients wish to do this, they should contact reception so we can set this up.
Direct Psychology Referrals
Not all patients need a psychiatrist to attend to them. A patient can be referred directly to a psychologist without involving a psychiatrist. In this case, the patient’s personal doctor would still be clinically responsible for them, and the psychologist would communicate with the doctor about the progress made.
It is also possible for patients themselves to refer directly to a psychologist. The psychologist may need to contact the patient’s psychiatrist (if available) and family, particularly if there are concerns about the effectiveness of treatment or safety of the patient.
For more details on self-referral, please click on the link below:
Arrange a consultation
Arranging follow-up appointments
During a consultation, the psychiatrist will recommend the next steps in a patient’s treatment. Depending on the doctor, a follow-up appointment may be made during the session, or you may be asked to contact the doctor’s office to make an appointment. The patient may be informed about how long it will take before they need a follow-up appointment, or the psychiatrist may advise them to only make an appointment if they feel it is necessary.
As for psychotherapy, the consultant may recommend a therapy of certain duration. For example, six monthly sessions. Or he may leave the duration open so that the therapy can be tailored to the progress made.
Each patient receives a personalised treatment plan tailored to their condition and needs. Consequently, there are no ‘hard and fast rules’ for follow-up appointments. However, if you have any concerns about next steps, it is important that you contact your psychiatrist and ask them.
Medical Report
After a patient’s initial examination and whenever a doctor deems it appropriate during treatment, doctors can provide a medical report. The report will include details of the patient’s condition and describe the course of treatment. Special reference is made to the medication prescribed and the physical complaints noted during the course of treatment.
