Contact Details
Unither House,
Curfew Bell Road,
Chertsey,
KT16 9FG,
United Kingdom
Telephone: 0300 330 2049
Opening Times
Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
Contact Names
Consultant Psychiatrist: Dr Ramya Giridhar
Service Manager: Vimbai Matemba
Service Description
The perinatal mental health service is a specialist service for women who are planning a pregnancy, are pregnant or have a baby up to 12 months old who have serious or complex mental health needs. We can offer support, where appropriate, up to their baby's second birthday.
For more information download our perinatal mental health service leaflet.
North East Hampshire
Women who are registered with a GP in North East Hampshire should be referred to the perinatal service run by Southern Health. For more information visit Southern Health's website.
Mental Health Crisis Support
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or emotional distress you can contact our Mental Health Crisis Helpline on 0800 915 4644. We are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for mental health advice and support. More information at www.sabp.nhs.uk/help
People with speech or hearing difficulties can access the mental health crisis line by:
- Dialling us through the BT Relay App or Textphone: 18001 0800 915 4644. More information at www.relayuk.bt.com
- Sending an SMS text to 07717 989 024 (Please note this service is only available to adults aged 18 years and over).
Referral Process
We accept referrals from health and social care professionals, including GPs, obstetricians, midwives, health visitors. This service is not open to self referrals.
Referral Criteria
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
- Mother and Baby Unit admission
These women should be referred even if they are currently well.
Referrals are also accepted for women with other severe or complex mental illness, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, eating disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Personality Disorder.
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.
We work with women who cannot be effectively managed in primary care.
If a woman is already under the care of a community mental health team she should still be referred so we can work jointly with this team.
If the woman is a psychiatric inpatient during pregnancy or the postnatal period she should be referred so that we 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.
In cases where substance misuse is the primary problem please refer to specialist substance misuse services. We can work jointly with substance misuse services if the woman also has a severe mental illness.
Women under 18 years old can be referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and the Perinatal Mental Health Service will provide advice to CAMHS.
For more information about referrals please see our Perinatal and AFLoaT referral guidance