The Cancer Psychology Service Team provides psychological support for patients receiving care from the Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust Cancer Services.
The following psychologists provide input into this service:
- Dr Jane Clark, Lead Consultant Clinical Psychologist
- Dr Ian Lorentz, Principal Clinical Psychologist
- Dr Nicky Bould, Senior Clinical Psychologist
- Dr Gita Robson, Senior Clinical Psychologist
- Dr Richard Hobbs, Senior Clinical Psychologist
- Dr Lucy Holmes, Clinical Psychologist
Appointments are available at St James’s Hospital (Rehabilitation Department, Level 1 Bexley Wing) or via video consultation.
Information for Patients
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Clinical Psychology Service for People with Cancer (Cancer Psychology Service).
What is this information about?
This information aims to answer some of the questions you may have about the Clinical Psychology Service for People with Cancer (Cancer Psychology Service).
Why are there Clinical Psychologists in the Cancer Service?
Living with cancer and its treatment can bring many different feelings, both for you and those close to you. These may include shock, disbelief, fear, loneliness and resentment. Sometimes they come together in a way that can feel overwhelming. This may cause you to worry about how you will manage. This is where a member of the Cancer Psychology Service team may help. Our role is to provide emotional and psychological support to patients who have cancer or are recovering after cancer treatment.
How can the Cancer Psychology Service help?
Psychologists can help people in a variety of ways. Rather than prescribing medications, Clinical Psychologists are trained to help people talk through their problems.
The person you see will have an understanding of the psychological effects that cancer and treatment for cancer can have. Everyone is different and many people find it helpful to talk about how their cancer affects different areas of their lives. Sometimes talking through problems can help people to find better ways of managing their difficulties. You will not have to talk about anything that you don’t want to.
Examples of things that people often talk to Clinical Psychologists about include:
- Feeling low, upset or angry after a diagnosis or treatment for cancer
- Decisions about treatment and coping with treatment
- Worries or fears about the future
- Changes to the body after cancer or treatment
- Difficulties in relationships
Who is the service for?
This service is available to all patients at any stage of treatment for cancer who are under the care of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Adult Cancer Service. This includes people who have finished their medical or surgical treatment for cancer. We focus on helping with the emotional or psychological difficulties relating to cancer or treatment for cancer. It may be that if some of your difficulties are not related to your experience of cancer and if so we may help you to access another source of support for these issues.
What happens to the information I share with you?
Information that you share with the Clinical Psychologist is kept confidential and notes we write in meetings will be kept separate from your medical notes. Clinical Psychologists have a responsibility to tell somebody if they are worried that you or somebody else is at risk of getting hurt. We would always try to discuss this with you first. Your Clinical Psychologist will talk more about confidentiality with you at your first appointment.
What should I do if I would like this kind of help?
If you feel that you might benefit from talking to a Clinical Psychologist, please tell one of the Doctors or Clinical Nurse Specialists. They will help to decide if this is the most appropriate service for you. There are other support services, such as the Maggie’s Centre, where you may be directed for help. There may be a wait before you can be seen in our department (the doctor or nurse referring you will be able to find out more about this, or you could telephone our department).
Who will I see?
The person you will see will usually be a qualified Clinical Psychologist who specialises in working with people with cancer. You will usually see the same person throughout your care. You may be seen by a Psychologist in Clinical Training. This Psychologist will be closely supervised by a qualified Clinical Psychologist.
We work closely with the Maggie’s Centre so we may suggest that you access groups or services there either instead of our service or alongside our input.
How often will I see the Clinical Psychologist?
You and the Clinical Psychologist can discuss how often it would be best to meet. Some people see the Clinical Psychologist only once or twice, others may see them once a week or once a fortnight for several weeks or months.
Where will I see the psychologist?
We see people for outpatient appointments in the Rehabilitation Department, Level 1, Bexley Wing, St James’s University Hospital. We sometimes also see people on the wards.
Where can I get more information?
If you want to find out more about the Cancer Psychology Service, please ask one of the doctors or Clinical Nurse Specialists involved in your care.
Department of Rehabilitation, Level 1, Bexley Wing, St James’s University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds, LS9 7TF
Telephone: 0113 206 7656
Resources
Whilst we endeavour to offer you an appointment as soon as we can, the wait for an appointment can sometimes be long. With this in mind we thought it might be helpful to make you aware of some other resources and sources of support that you may wish to access whilst you are waiting.
Maggie’s Centre
The Maggie’s Centre on site at St James’ Hospital offers a calming and inviting space for anyone affected by cancer. You, or anyone in your support network, may wish to visit the centre to take advantage of a quiet space for contemplation or chat to people who understand what you may be going through. The Maggie’s Centre also offers groups and activities that you may connect you with other people, which you may also find useful. They also have a Clinical Psychologist and a Benefits Advisor working there as part of the team.
More information about the Maggie’s Centre, including the range of services offered and opening hours, can be found on their website.
Macmillan Support Line
Telephone: 0808 239 1235.
The Macmillan support line offers support to people living with and affected by cancer. Talking about cancer can be difficult and so this service is designed to provide a confidential space to talk through any issues you may be facing. In addition, they may be able to help with practical or financial issues and direct you to other specialist organisations where this is indicated.
This Website
We have a number of resources here which you may find useful. These include self-help leaflets and links to websites. If you need help accessing any of these resources or require this information in a different format, then please do get in touch to let us know. We apologise again for your wait and if you no longer require an appointment then please do contact us to let us know, so that an appointment can be offered to someone else who may also be waiting to be seen.
Information for Staff
Please see our intranet site for referral guidance and use PPM+ Specialist Referrals to make a referral.