Whether a child or young person needs to see a psychiatrist, psychologist or psychotherapist can sometimes be very confusing. Whilst there is often a lot of overlap in the assessment that each professional group might do, psychiatrists are expert in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of mental disorder. Psychiatrists are also able to prescribe medication, and as they are medically trained, to consider the likely impact of physical health conditions on mental health. Dr Banham works alongside other mental health professionals and will be clear and transparent about whether she feels that another professional may be better able to meet the child or young person’s needs.

Dr Banham accepts self-referrals and referrals from another health care professional i.e. GP, psychology, psychiatry, psychotherapy, paediatrics, speech and language therapy. A short summary of the difficulties, any risks and previous assessment/treatment would be essential to include. If accepted for assessment, Dr Banham may also ask for any previous professional reports/letters to be forwarded in advance of the appointment.

Where families are concerned about their child or young person being at imminent risk of harm to self or to others, they need to access urgent care via their GP, NHS 111 option 2, 999 or their local A&E where they can be seen the same day. Large A&E departments in the area such as The Lister Hospital (Stevenage), Barnet General Hospital (High Barnet), Princess Alexandra Hospital (Harlow), North Middlesex University Hospital (Edmonton), The Whittington Hospital (Highgate/Archway) all have child and adolescent mental health teams who can assess young people in distress. Dr Banham’s service is unfortunately not equipped to provide crisis intervention. Dr Banham may have clinic availability to see children and young people at short notice - please enquire. Please see the ‘contact’ section.

Dr Banham has a strong preference to meet children and young people and their family face to face, especially for an initial assessment. This helps to build and connection and trusting relationship that helps towards good assessment and treatment. However, Dr Banham is aware that some children and young people struggle very much to come to unfamiliar settings to meet someone they do not know. It may be possible to consider an assessment via Zoom if it will prove very difficult to bring the child or young person to clinic. Families should be aware that safe monitoring of some medications may necessitate face-to-face meetings.

Some types of psychiatric presentation are not suited to care within the private sector. Where there are significant physical health concerns due to a mental health difficulty, for example, an eating disorder, it may not be safe for care to be held within a general private psychiatric setting. Additionally, young people who are very suicidal and cannot keep themselves safe from significant self-harm cannot safely be cared for by a private psychiatrist alone. Some children and young people need a team approach to their care and access to support out of working hours. If after undertaking an initial assessment or reading referral information, Dr Banham judges that she cannot safely provide care, then she will recommend suitable alternatives. If a child or young person becomes acutely mentally unwell and Dr Banham (alongside any other professionals working in parallel) is not able to provide input of the type, frequency or intensity that is needed, she will recommend onward referral

Dr Banham is unlikely to be able to see a child or young person if:

• difficulties are primarily to do with alcohol or substance misuse

• difficulties are primarily around eating (restrictive, bingeing or ARFID)

• the child or young person has intellectual disabilities at the moderate, severe or profound level (this would usually mean relatively little spoken language)

• A second or expert witness opinion is required for court proceedings.

• If appointments at weekends or outside monday to friday 8-6pm would be needed.

At present, Dr Banham does not accept referrals via health insurers such as AXA or BUPA. This may be available in the future but at present, she is only able to accept referrals for patients who are self-funding. Equally, Dr Banham cannot provide assessment under ‘Right to Choose’.

Whilst ADHD is a common condition, not all those presenting with core symptoms may turn out to have ADHD. Other difficulties such as trauma, anxiety and poor sleep can present in a similar way. In these instances, a diagnosis of ADHD may not be appropriate or Dr Banham may suggest treatment of other difficulties first before revisiting the ADHD assessment. 

We understand that sometimes a booked appointment cannot be attended as planned. As much notice as possible must be given if a date or time is no longer suitable and Dr Banham will endeavour to rearrange an appointment. Cancellation fees will apply if insufficent notice is given, please see the terms and conditions for details.

We understand that self-funding care within the private sector over an extended period of time can be costly. You are entitled to care within NHS CAMHS, and you may wish to move care into NHS CAMHS. We would suggest approaching your GP to ask them to make a referral into your local CAMHS as soon as you are sure you wish to pursue a transfer of care. There can often be a wait for this formal transfer, during which time, your GP and local CAMHS team will not provide clinical care or issue prescriptions. Dr Banham is happy to continue providing care (reviews and prescriptions) until a safe handover is completed. Dr Banham will endeavour to keep costs to a minimum but cannot safely provide medication scripts without periodically seeing the child or young person. The onus would be on the parent to continue to book in appointments and order private prescriptions.

GPs may or may not accept ‘shared care’ with a private psychiatrist. It is a good idea to approach your GP to discuss whether they would be prepared to do NHS blood tests/ECGs or issue NHS prescriptions whilst the child or young person is under Dr Banham’s care. Dr Banham is happy to receive correspondence from NHS GPs regarding patients she has seen. If the GP does not agree to share care with a private psychiatrist, the family would need to continue to obtain medication via private prescription.

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