Mental Health Helpline for GPs

A dedicated phone line where GPs in South Essex can get professional advice about new or expectant mums with mental illness has been launched by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT).

The phone line is open on Tuesday afternoons (2pm – 4.30pm) so that GPs in South Essex can speak directly with a psychiatrist about perinatal mental illnesses they are concerned about.

GPs in South Essex can call the South Hub Office on 01702 538170 on Tuesday afternoons or arrange for a call back through the email address: epunft.perinatal.psychiatryservice@nhs.net

Perinatal is the period from conception up to the baby’s first birthday. Some women can experience severe and complex mental illness during this time and the helpline is a useful resource for GPs who are usually the first port of call.

The launch of EPUT’s perinatal advice line for GPs comes at a time when NHS England is expanding community perinatal mental health services for new and expectant mums throughout the country.

NHS England has pledged that from April next year, new and expectant mums who are experiencing mental health problems will be able to access community perinatal mental health services quicker and closer to home.

Sally Morris, Chief Executive at EPUT said: “Mental illness is complex and a dedicated phone line like the one we have launched is really good news for our patients. Our psychiatrists will be able to offer help and advice to GPs who may not have specialist knowledge about mental illness which could mean that patients get the right treatment quickly and in the community.”