C&I is working with NHS England and taking steps to manage the outbreak of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. We are keeping our services going as much as possible, but each service is having to look at new ways of operating. You may be offered a telephone of video consultation instead of a face-to-face one, and large group activities and events have been cancelled.
Please be assured we are still offering high quality effective mental health care, but we have had to change the way we do this to follow the Government's social distancing guidelines and protect our service users, carers and staff.
Please check this website regularly as the situation is changing rapidly and we will be updating the information frequently. See the current changes to our services below:
If you would like to speak with your clinician via video consultation but do not have access to a device or suitable internet connection, or do not feel confident using this technology, please speak with your clinician or the Digital Inclusion Officer (DIO@candi.nhs.uk) to find out more about the Trust's Digital Inclusion Scheme.
We now offer video consultations which means you can attend your consultation online via a video call. Video calling is as convenient as a phone call, with the added value of face-to-face communication. It can save you time and money and bring your care closer to home. Instead of travelling to your appointment, you enter the clinic’s online waiting area. The health service is notified when you arrive, and your clinician will join you when ready.
By offering remote video consultation we are offering greater choice and flexibility in the provision of your care. However, if you are unable to access these online platforms, this will not negatively impact on their ability to access support. There is no need to create an online account.
No information you enter is stored.
If you’ve received an invite to talk to your clinician or therapist via an online video consultation rather than meeting in person, we’ve put some information together to help you prepare. Click here
Services for Ageing and Perinatal Mental Heath
Care Home Liaison teams in Camden and Islington are offering assessment, treatment and support by telephone and video consultation. Due to the risk of COVID in care homes we are currently not offering face-to-face appointments. We also offer psychological and emotional support to care home staff.
Memory Services and Community Mental Health Teams in Camden and Islington are offering limited face-to-face assessment and reviews – the majority of contact is by telephone or video consultation. Face-to-face contact is provided in the patient’s home and staff will wear PPE and adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Community Recovery Service for Older People has closed its day facility and group sessions. All patients are supported by telephone on a daily basis and home visits are offered when required.
Our Perinatal Service has reduced face-to-face contact with service users, offering the majority of consultations by video or telephone call. When face-to-face contact is required this is usually being offered in service user’s homes to avoid the need for women and family members to come to busy clinic sites. We are still offering a full level of care to our most vulnerable service users.
Primary Care
iCope services in Camden and Islington are offering limited assessment, treatment and support by telephone. The teams are providing a reduced service in order to increase support for people experiencing anxiety related to, or exacerbated by, the pandemic. Please see iCope website for details
Acute Services
Professionals in community services and advocacy services are keeping in touch with patients in hospital by phone wherever possible
C&I has moved the service we normally offer in emergency departments to our 24-hour Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service, at St Pancras Hospital. The service will see people in need of urgent care so that they do not have to go to a hospital emergency department unless they have an urgent medical need. Emergency departments are under unprecedented pressure due to COVID-19 – the illness caused by coronavirus. We are urging people in mental health crisis to telephone our 24/7 crisis line on 020 3317 6333 or contact their usual community mental health team. If service users attend the 24-hour Mental Health Crisis Assessment Service in person we will see you but we urge you to contact the crisis line in advance for advice to ensure you are only leaving home when absolutely necessary.
Crisis Resolution Teams are offering assessments and home treatment through telephone support and face-to-face contact when needed, they will use Protective Equipment in all face-to-face contacts.
The Rivers Crisis House, North Camden Crisis House & Drayton Park Women’s’ Crisis House are encouraging home treatment for all new community referrals, unless this would otherwise result in an emergency hospital admission. They will continue to support transition from hospital for those who need this continued level of 24/7 care
The Acute Day Unit service has been temporarily paused due to the need to suspend group contact and maintain social distancing. The staff are currently supporting other services in the Acute division.
Substance Misuse Services
In this difficult time, we want you to know that the trust's Substance Misuse Services are still operating but to protect everyone, we are trying to minimise the need for service users to attend our buildings.
We are continuing to offer new assessments but would ask that, if possible, this is booked with us in advance.
Mostly we will be offering telephone-based assessments, keyworking and reviews with very few people seen face-to-face.
We are doing all we can to ensure service users who are self-isolating receive their prescriptions. If you are concerned, please call your usual service.
Andplease click herefor some important harm reduction advice about drug and alcohol use.
Recovery & Rehabilitation Division
Community teams have reduced face-to-face contacts, so it is only used to resolve critical issues. Routine contact is being carried out either on the telephone or by video call appointments. The teams continue to receive referrals and will carry out telephone assessments where possible
Community teams will continue to support service users on Clozapine and Depot medication
Community teams will continue to have staff across all our community sites 5 days a week between the core hours of 9-5
Our Clozapine clinics continue to operate as normal
The Traumatic Stress Clinic is closed to referrals but is offering remote support to clients and is monitoring emails and messages
Anxious or distressed about coronavirus?
Camden and Islington iCope are available to help people living in the boroughs to manage increased anxiety and distress arising from the current coronavirus pandemic.
The iCope team already has a page on their website with suggestions to keep as psychologically well as possible during this time, including webpages, podcasts and apps that we hope can help. In addition, we are offering 30 minute telephone appointments for practical support, signposting and access to helpful materials. To access this support, residents should make a self-referral via the website or by calling 020 3317 6670 (Camden) and 020 3317 7252 (Islington)
iCope have developed a three session rapid response intervention that is based on psychological first aid. It has been designed to help people who are struggling to cope and function day to day because of the impact of Covid–19 on work or home life. For example if circumstances have changed due to the pandemic or if you they have experienced Covid-19 yourself or have lost a loved one to COVID-19. When referrals are screened the service will think about what iCope intervention might be most beneficial as this is one of several new interventions that iCope are offering at the moment.
Do you have coronavirus symptoms?
We are asking anyone who has symptoms, or anyone who has been in contact with someone with symptoms, not to attend hospital or any of our sites. You should follow the Government rules to stay at home and get in touch with the NHS Test and Trace service to request a test. The symptoms of coronavirus are:
a high temperature
a new, continuous cough
loss of taste and smell
Urgent advice: Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:
you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
There have been reports that some medications can protect against coronavirus and alleviate the symptoms of the illness it causes, COVID-19. Please read our advice here.
How to avoid catching or spreading the virus
There are things you can do to help stop viruses like coronavirus spreading.
cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
put used tissues in the bin immediately
wash your hands with soap and water often – use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
For more information about coronavirus, please visit the NHS website.
Covid-19: Changes to our services and general advice
C&I is working with NHS England and taking steps to manage the outbreak of coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. We are keeping our services going as much as possible, but each service is having to look at new ways of operating. You may be offered a telephone of video consultation instead of a face-to-face one, and large group activities and events have been cancelled.
Please be assured we are still offering high quality effective mental health care, but we have had to change the way we do this to follow the Government's social distancing guidelines and protect our service users, carers and staff.
Please check this website regularly as the situation is changing rapidly and we will be updating the information frequently. See the current changes to our services below:
Visitors
Video Consultations
If you would like to speak with your clinician via video consultation but do not have access to a device or suitable internet connection, or do not feel confident using this technology, please speak with your clinician or the Digital Inclusion Officer (DIO@candi.nhs.uk) to find out more about the Trust's Digital Inclusion Scheme.
We now offer video consultations which means you can attend your consultation online via a video call. Video calling is as convenient as a phone call, with the added value of face-to-face communication. It can save you time and money and bring your care closer to home. Instead of travelling to your appointment, you enter the clinic’s online waiting area. The health service is notified when you arrive, and your clinician will join you when ready.
By offering remote video consultation we are offering greater choice and flexibility in the provision of your care. However, if you are unable to access these online platforms, this will not negatively impact on their ability to access support. There is no need to create an online account.
No information you enter is stored.
If you’ve received an invite to talk to your clinician or therapist via an online video consultation rather than meeting in person, we’ve put some information together to help you prepare. Click here
Services for Ageing and Perinatal Mental Heath
Primary Care
Acute Services
Substance Misuse Services
Recovery & Rehabilitation Division
Anxious or distressed about coronavirus?
Camden and Islington iCope are available to help people living in the boroughs to manage increased anxiety and distress arising from the current coronavirus pandemic.
The iCope team already has a page on their website with suggestions to keep as psychologically well as possible during this time, including webpages, podcasts and apps that we hope can help. In addition, we are offering 30 minute telephone appointments for practical support, signposting and access to helpful materials. To access this support, residents should make a self-referral via the website or by calling 020 3317 6670 (Camden) and 020 3317 7252 (Islington)
Please note: it may be necessary to leave a message and receive a call back. iCope will be updating their website so do check their website for the latest information on those services. You can also see here for tips on how to improve your mental health and wellbeing.
iCope have developed a three session rapid response intervention that is based on psychological first aid. It has been designed to help people who are struggling to cope and function day to day because of the impact of Covid–19 on work or home life. For example if circumstances have changed due to the pandemic or if you they have experienced Covid-19 yourself or have lost a loved one to COVID-19. When referrals are screened the service will think about what iCope intervention might be most beneficial as this is one of several new interventions that iCope are offering at the moment.
Do you have coronavirus symptoms?
We are asking anyone who has symptoms, or anyone who has been in contact with someone with symptoms, not to attend hospital or any of our sites. You should follow the Government rules to stay at home and get in touch with the NHS Test and Trace service to request a test. The symptoms of coronavirus are:
a high temperature
a new, continuous cough
loss of taste and smell
Urgent advice: Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:
you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
your condition gets worse
your symptoms do not get better after 7 days
For more information on the coronavirus, please use the 111 online coronavirus service.
There have been reports that some medications can protect against coronavirus and alleviate the symptoms of the illness it causes, COVID-19. Please read our advice here.
How to avoid catching or spreading the virus
There are things you can do to help stop viruses like coronavirus spreading.
For more information about coronavirus, please visit the NHS website.