REFERRAL PROCESS

Once your referral and any necessary investigations have been received from your General Practitioner they will be reviewed and prioritised at the weekly clinical meeting. Following this we will contact you to offer you an appointment or recommend a possible alternative approach.

Throughout your assessment at the clinic we would request that you are accompanied by a family member or friend to provide support and/or additional information.

We recommend that all patients attending the clinic maintain a close relationship with their referring General Practitioner as the doctors at the clinic will need to work in conjunction with your usual medical practitioner.

THE MEMORY CLINIC

Please ask your General Practitioner to assist you with additional requirements listed below when providing you with a referral to The Gosforth Clinic.

• A referral from your General Practitioner addressed to Dr Philip Bird including a detailed history.
• CT head scan. A computerized tomography (CT) scan combines a series of X-ray images taken from different angles and uses computer processing to create cross-sectional images, or slices, of the bones, blood vessels and soft tissues inside your body. Your GP will refer you to an appropriate imagery centre.
• Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE). This is a 30-point questionnaire that is used to measure cognitive impairment. It is an effective way to document to estimate the severity and progression of cognitive impairment and to follow the course of cognitive changes in patient’s over time.
• Blood tests including; FBC, E/LFT’s, TSH, B12, folate.

ADULT Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) CLINIC PRE-SCREENING

To be assessed at The Gosforth Adult ADHD Clinic, the following needs to be completed by the referring General Practitioner;

1. A referral addressed to Dr Philip Bird from your General Practitioner.
2. The completed Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale should be attached to the referral.
3. The completed Essential Information form.
4. Urine Drug Screen (UDS). All patients referred for an Adult ADHD assessment are required to provide a clear urine drug screen. before being assessed at the clinic.
5. Electrocardiogram (ECG). This is a measure of your heart rhythm and all patients must have a baseline assessment.

ADULT Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) CLINICAL ASSESSMENT

If you have previously been diagnosed with ADHD or similar conditions and have relevant information from other healthcare providers, please forward this information to the Clinic before your initial appointment.
Your first appointment, at the Clinic is a pre-assessment with Monica Hassall (ADHD Coach) or Dr Shirley Oelofse.
During this appointment, you will be asked questions about your symptoms and a history of any difficulties you may have experienced during your childhood and your adult life. You will also complete some rating scales and questionnaires.

Your second appointment will be a diagnostic assessment with Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Philip Bird. You are required to have a support person with you at this appointment. If this is not possible, the support person must be contactable during the assessment to provide additional history.

AUTISM CLINIC PRE-SCREENING

To be assessed at The Gosforth Adult Autism Clinic, the following needs to be completed by the referring General Practitioner;

1. A referral addressed to Dr Philip Bird from your General Practitioner
2. Copies of past assessments and have relevant information from other healthcare providers to be forwarded to the Clinic with your referral.

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD) CLINICAL ASSESSMENT

Your first attendance at the Clinic is a pre-assessment with Monica Hassall (ADHD Coach) or Dr Shirley Oelofse.
During the pre-assessment, you will be asked questions about your symptoms and a history of any difficulties you may have experienced during your childhood and your adult life. You will also complete some rating scales and questionnaires.

Your second appointment will be a diagnostic assessment with Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Philip Bird. Patients are required to have a support person with them at this appointment. If this is not possible, the support person must be contactable during the appointment to provide additional history.

EATING DISORDERS CLINIC

To be assessed at The Gosforth Clinic the following needs to be completed.

• A referral from your General Practitioner addressed to Dr Philip Bird including a detailed history of your current symptoms and any past psychological issues.
• Height and weight measurement
• Blood pressure measurement
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) This is a measure of your heart rhythm.
• Blood tests including; FBE, E/LFT’s,TSH.