- Overview
- Directions
- How do I register for this service?
- Contact us
- Reviews and feedback
- Accessibility Information
- Useful resources and links
- Professionals
Type
Maternal loss psychology serviceThe Maternal Loss Psychology Service is a specialist service that provides assessment, support and psychological interventions for those who develop moderate to severe mental health difficulties relating to infant loss including:
- miscarriage(s)
- still birth(s)
- ectopic pregnancies
- Other baby losses (including some cases of complex fertility)
We support people who are currently pregnant and have experienced loss in the past as well as people who have experienced loss in the last 12 months and are not currently pregnant.
It is important that you get the right support. In the first instance, contact your GP, midwife or health visitor and let them know what you are experiencing and ask them to make a referral to this service.
Who is this service for: People across Northamptonshire with moderate to severe mental health condition related to the above criteria.
*Patients and service users will be seen at locations across Northamptonshire or via video call*
How do I register for this service?
The service does not accept self referrals. Please speak to a health professional to be referred.
Referrals can be made by any health professional working with an individual including midwives, health visitors, GP’s, hospital based teams and mental health services.
A member of the clinical team is available to discuss potential referrals during working hours.
Within two weeks of receiving a referral, a team member will arrange an appointment to carry out an initial assessment. From this if we agree that this is the right service for you, we will build a plan of care to suit your needs and further appointments with a team member. The appointments will be offered at locations across Northamptonshire, or via Microsoft Teams.
If after the initial appointment we agree this service is not right for you, we will signpost you to a service more suited to your needs.
Contact us
The service is available to contact Monday - Friday between 9am and 5pm.
Telephone: 03000 270 480
Email: Perinatal@nhft.nhs.uk
If you are a medical professional please click the link below to refer your patient
Specialist Perinatal and Maternal Loss Psychology Service referral form
If you are in need of mental health support outside of these hours, please call the Mental Health Number on 0800 448 0828. Lines available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Reviews and feedback
We value your feedback in order to help us develop our services and ensure that we're making a difference for you, with you.
Accessibility Information
As a service, we are committed to making any adjustments which service users require in order to receive care.
Please speak to your medical professional who is referring you to the service (for example, GP, midwife) if you have any accessibility requirements at the point of referral.
Useful resources and links
Make Birth Better
Offer support to guide all people affected by traumatic birth experiences
www.makebirthbetter.org
Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society - SANDS
SANDS support bereaved parents and families if a baby dies before, during or after childbirth.
www.sands.org.uk
Helpline: 0808 164 3332 (lines open Monday – Friday 10am - 3pm, Tuesday and Thursday 6pm – 9.30pm)
Email: helpline@sands.org.uk
Fertility Network UK
Provides free and impartial support, advice, information and understanding for anyone affected by fertility issues.
www.fertilitynetworkuk.org
Helpline: 0121 323 5025 (Monday to Friday) 10am – 4pm
Email: support@fertilitynetworkuk.org
The National Childbirth Trust
NCT offer information and advice about pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal care to parents and parents-to-be.
www.nct.org.uk
Helpline: 0300 33 00 700 (lines open 8am - midnight)
Tommy’s
Tommy’s offer information about premature birth, miscarriage and stillbirth
www.tommys.org.uk
Email: info@tommys.org
Professionals
The Maternal Loss Psychology Service is a psychology led service for women and birthing parents experiencing moderate to severe mental health difficulties related to suffering a pregnancy or baby loss.
This service works alongside maternity and bereavement services and can provide assessments, psychological interventions and support with birth preparation in subsequent pregnancies.
Service criteria
The service accepts the following referrals:
- For women or birthing parent(s) who are not currently pregnant following a recent loss (Where the loss occurred within the last 12 months*)
- For women or birthing parent(s) who are currently pregnant, but affected by a past baby loss
*(Referrals made from 9-12 months following a loss will be assessed on a case by case basis)
Please complete a referral form (on the contact us tab).
Once a referral is received, it will be reviewed to confirm it meets the criteria for the service. If it does, the woman or birthing parent will be accepted onto the caseload and an appointment will be made with them. The service has a two to six week lead time to complete an assessment and create a treatment plan for the service user.
A letter of acceptance or non acceptance of the referral will be sent to the referrer, the service user and their GP. Where the referral is not accepted, we will signpost onto other appropriate services and this will also be detailed within the letter.
At the end of the service user’s time with the service, they will be discharged or discharged to another appropriate service if required and a letter will be sent to them, their GP and the referrer.