Physical Health Monitoring Clinic – North Tyneside Community Treatment Team – Patient Information Leaflet

This leaflet provides you with information that you will find useful whilst attending the Physical Health Monitoring Clinic. If you are not sure about anything in this leaflet please ask a member of staff.

The Physical Health Monitoring Clinic is based within various community settings across Newcastle and North Tyneside. You will be invited to attend your nearest service.

The services provided at the clinic are as follows:
• Clozapine Monitoring
• Clozapine Initiation
• Phlebotomy(blood test)
• Lithium Monitoring
• Lithium Initiation
• HDAT Monitoring (High Dose Antipsychotic Therapy)
• Depot Injection Administration(antipsychotic)
• Physical Health Monitoring
• Side effect Monitoring

The services provided by the Physical Health Monitoring Clinic support your overall treatment plans.

We would appreciate if you could attend for your appointment time, as this will allow us to manage numbers and avoid overcrowding in waiting areas.

When you arrive in the Physical Health Monitoring Clinic, you will meet one of our members of staff, who work within the department. They will explain what will happen during the time you may be in receipt of our services.

• Please note that referral to any of our clinics will need to be made through your Care Co-ordinator, Lead Professional or your Consultant Psychiatrist.
• The clinic staff liaise closely with your Care Co-ordinator, Lead Professional or your Consultant Psychiatrist, your GP and any others that you may have contact with in the community.
• The Physical Health Monitoring Clinic provides services for out-patients.
• Staff at the Physical Health Monitoring Clinic will be happy to provide information to you and/or your carer about any treatment or therapy that may be recommended for you.

People usually attend appointments in the Physical Health Monitoring Clinic for approximately 15-60 minutes depending on which service you are receiving.

We offer these services on certain days each week. You will be informed by letter of when you are able to attend.

Clozapine Monitoring and Initiation
Clozapine is an anti-psychotic drug that requires special monitoring, as it has a relatively high risk of causing a serious disorder of the white blood cells which help fight infection (agranulocytosis). The Physical Health Monitoring Clinic has direct links to the Denzapine Monitoring System (DMS) and St. Nicholas Hospital pharmacy to ensure and maintain a safe service.

When you are first prescribed clozapine you need to be monitored closely for a period of two weeks whilst the dose of medication is being gradually increased. This is a specific protocol determined by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust. This needs to be done safely either in a hospital setting or within a Physical Health Monitoring Clinic.

You can only take clozapine if your blood count is monitored on a regular basis. Most service users taking clozapine in Newcastle and North Tyneside attend one of the Physical Health Monitoring Clinics for:
• blood sampling
• side effect monitoring
• physical health monitoring
• wellbeing advice, education and information.

Phlebotomy
The taking of blood samples as requested by your Consultant Psychiatrist or Care Co-ordinator/ Lead Professional.

Lithium Monitoring and Initiation
Lithium is used to help treat the symptoms of bipolar affective disorder, it can help make “highs and lows” less extreme or occur less often. It can take some time for Lithium to have its full effect. It may be used on its own or with other medicines. When you first start taking Lithium, there are various tests which need to be done before you commence treatment. There are also ongoing tests/bloods which need to be done three monthly. You will also be monitored closely for side effects. Physical health monitoring, wellbeing advice, education and other information will be completed during your consultation. Once your lithium treatment is stable, you may be able to transfer ongoing monitoring to your GP (family Doctor).

HDAT Monitoring (High Dose Antipsychotic Therapy Monitoring)
Sometimes if you are prescribed various different medications you will need to have a specific set of tests/blood samples every three months. You will also need to be closely monitored for side effects. Physical health monitoring, wellbeing advice, education and other information will be completed during your consultation.

Depot Clinic
Depot injections are administered by a Qualified Nurse within the Physical Health Monitoring Clinic located in your local community, or at home if there is a specific identified need. You will also need to be closely monitored for side effects. Physical health monitoring, wellbeing advice, education and other information will be completed during your consultation.

Physical Health Monitoring
When you have a mental health issue and you are prescribed various different medications you will need various tests/bloods tests at least once a year. You also need to have your blood pressure, height, weight and BMI recorded during this appointment and will be closely monitored for side effects. Wellbeing advice, education and other information will be completed during consultation. After your first year on such medications, this may be transferred back to your GP (family Doctor) for ongoing monitoring.

If you would like an interpreter, staff will be able to help you to get one.

You need to make your own way to the Physical Health Monitoring Clinic for your appointment. Your Care Co-ordinator/Lead Professional will be able to help you to make arrangements if necessary or will be able to help/advise you regarding travel arrangements. Please contact us should you experience any difficulties and we will be happy to try to help resolve them.

If you want to make a comment, suggestion, compliment or complaint you can:
• talk to the people directly involved in your care
• ask a member of staff for a feedback form, or complete a form on the Trust website www.cntw.nhs.uk (click on the ‘Contact Us’ tab)
• telephone the Complaints Department 0191 245 6672
• email [email protected] Please note that information sent to the Trust via email is sent at your own risk
• We are always looking at ways to improve services. Your feedback allows us to monitor the quality of our services and act upon issues that you bring to our attention.
You can provide feedback in the following ways:
– the quickest way for you to do this is to complete our short online survey at www.cntw.nhs.uk/poy
– complete a Points of You survey, available from staff.

• Pharmacy (Clozapine enquiries) Tel: 0191 246 6606
• National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Tel: 0300 323 0140
Website: www.nice.org.uk
• Pharmacy Medicines Information Line Tel: 0191 245 6604
(Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust)

A full list of references is available on request from the Patient Information Centre Tel: 0191 246 7288

Physical Health Monitoring Clinic, North Tyneside Community Treatment Team
Oxford Centre
West Farm Avenue
Longbenton
Tyne and Wear, NE12 8LT
Tel: 0191 640 0131

Further information about the content, reference sources or production of this leaflet can be obtained from the Patient Information Centre. If you would like to tell us what you think about this leaflet please get in touch.

This information can be made available in a range of formats on request (eg Braille, audio, larger print, easy read, BSL or other languages). Please contact the Patient Information Centre
Tel: 0191 246 7288

Published by the Patient Information Centre
2022 Copyright, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Ref, PIC/731/0222 February 2022 V3
www.cntw.nhs.uk Tel: 0191 246 7288
Review Date 2025