A Description of how the service operates

Our team is based at St Margarets Health Centre in Durham, and our clinical lead is Dr Keith Linsley, Consultant Psychiatrist. The team, consisting of occupational therapy and physiotherapy, is therapy led, with Clinical Specialists in both professions, and also has input from a Consultant Physician and Clinical Psychologist when required. Clinics are held at two venues in Durham city as well as at Sedgefield Community Hospital.

The aim of therapy is to offer a lifestyle management approach which will educate the individual about their illness and offer support to them and their family. We hope to work with patients to establish coping strategies and techniques to improve their overall quality of life, and give increased control over their illness.
All therapy intervention will consist of some cognitive behavioural therapy techniques. This allows the therapists to tailor make the treatment plans to suit each individuals own life experiences and present life situation, making all intervention client centred.
We receive referrals from GPs within our area, and all patients are asked to complete a questionnaire prior to their initial appointment. This gives us vital information as to which professional would be of most benefit to you on your initial assessment, as well as details of the severity of your symptoms.

Specific therapy treatments which may be applied include:
1 Energy Management and Pacing Techniques
2 Graded Activity Therapy
3 Graded Exercise Therapy
4 Sleep Hygiene
5. Pain Management
6 Diet
7 Cognitive Rehabilitation
8 A Lifestyle Management Group

When patients have completed their treatment with our team, we continue to monitor them at 6 and 12 months following discharge to ensure that improvements are being maintained, and that any relapses or setbacks are dealt with appropriately.