Psychological Support for People Living with Cancer under the care of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust Oncology and Haematology

The service is based at UHCW and is made up of therapists specialising in the psychological impact of Oncology and Haematology diagnoses

A wide range of confidential support and psychological interventions can be offered by the team made up of:

• Clinical Psychologists (Level 4)
• Counsellor (supported by Coventry and Warwickshire ICS for 18months to provide level 3 interventions)

Location:

We offer sessions face to face, via webcam and over the phone

We offer outpatient therapy sessions at:

• The Arden Cancer Centre (Coventry)
• Haematology Outpatients (Coventry)
• Maple Unit at Rugby St Cross (Rugby)

Who can be referred?

Patients under the care of UHCW for a cancer diagnosis and their partners, carers and families who are experiencing psychological distress related to cancer above and beyond what would be expected

Patients can be referred at any point on the pathway, from diagnosis to living with incurable disease.

We welcome referrals for patients struggling to cope with their cancer diagnosis and who have a pre-diagnosed mental health condition. However, this is not a service designed to support people with managing their complex mental health needs and/or manage complex risk

We liaise with other involved supportive services as appropriate and where new concerns are identified onward referrals to the appropriate mental health teams may be made

This service is for patients under the care of adult cancer services. There is specialist support available in the paediatrics service to support children with a cancer diagnosis and their families

Referral Route:

Referrals can be made by all cancer, haematology and palliative care nurses, doctors and allied health professionals working within UHCW

Referral Criteria:

• Under the care of UHCW Oncology Dept. (active or PIFU)
• Referral reason related to their cancer diagnosis
• Have consented to the referral
• Is not currently receiving psychological therapy from another service
• or a relative of a patient who meets the above criteria and who has consented

What the service offers:

• 1:1 or couples-based therapy or counselling
• Urgent intervention for patients at risk of treatment refusal due to psychological distress (e.g. needle phobia)
• Risk reducing mastectomy assessments for those at a high risk of developing breast cancer

Examples of the issues we work with in therapy and counselling: 

• Coping with a sense that the future is uncertain
• Coping with how cancer affects relationships
• Feelings of depression, anxiety and anger
• Coping with adjustment, change, loss
• Coping with pain, discomfort, fatigue and treatment side effects
• Coping with how cancer affects sexual functioning
• Coping with how cancer affects self-esteem and sense of self
• Trauma related to cancer treatment
• Working with psychological issues that may prevent patients receiving treatment e.g. surgery or needle phobia
• Supporting patients with complex decision making around treatment options when this may delay treatment and impact patient outcome

The above information relates to our outpatient service. We also support inpatients who are experiencing psychological distress related to their cancer

Other Services:

In addition to helping patients, families and carers, we support health care professions by co-working and by offering advice, training, case discussion, supervision and consultation. We can also sign post health professionals to other appropriate sources of support