Specialist Services
We treat a range of eating disorders from first presentation to severe and intractable. Treatment programmes are evidenced-based care packages working alongside our colleagues in secondary care, tailored to meet the needs of service users and their carers. We offer assessment, treatment and management to people with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder or mixed eating disorder symptoms (eating disorders not otherwise specified).
Our specialist tertiary services offers intensive treatment to service users in an outpatient setting. Interventions may comprise of individual, group and family therapy, dietetics and risk management which cannot be managed in a primary or secondary care service. The team complete initial assessments with secondary care colleagues and offer advice and guidance to GPs, practice nurses and carers.
The Aneurin Bevan University Health Board Perinatal Mental Health Service is a specialist community team that covers the whole of the Gwent area. Our multi-disciplinary team provides care and treatment to women who are pregnant or postnatal and are at risk of, or are affected by mental illness. If you have concerns about your mental health please speak with your Midwife or Health Visitor.
Family Therapy is a way of working with families so that they can understand and deal more effectively with any difficulties that family members may be experiencing. The aims of the family work are to draw upon the strengths and commitment of families to help tackle difficulties, improve communication, and help family members to understand each other better and to work together.
GSSMS is an NHS Specialist Addiction Service dedicated to helping people with addiction and/or dependency needs. GSSMS works with a variety of health, local authority and third sector partners to help people achieve their goals of abstinence or harm reduction.
GSSMS recognises the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), trauma and adversity and prides itself on being a trauma informed service. We promote physical, psychological and emotional safety amongst individuals who require our help, enabling them to reach, not just their treatment goals, but assisting them to realise their full potential.
GSSMS offers a variety of services, including: -
- Addiction treatment for those with complex health needs including a comprehensive and holistic assessment (where management requires a multi-disciplinary approach).
- An assessment and treatment service for pregnant women.
- Substitute medication where appropriate e.g. for opiate dependence (illicit and prescribed/over-the-counter), for individuals with complex health needs.
- A Primary Care Local Enhanced Service (individuals who are stable on opiate substitute treatment, requiring a lower intensity of intervention and working towards abstinence).
- Specialist help and medical/psycho-social treatment for individuals experiencing a wide variety of drug/alcohol addiction across all five counties (Blaenau Gwent; Caerphilly; Monmouthshire; Newport; Torfaen).
- In-patient medically managed alcohol withdrawal (detoxification) for those medically assessed as physically dependent on alcohol paired with complex health backgrounds (where home/community management of withdrawal is not considered clinically safe).
- In-patient treatment for opiate substitute medication transfer where not safe to do so in the community as well as inpatient management of other substance withdrawals where appropriate.
- An Alcohol Related Brain Damage assessment for diagnosis service with ongoing support, advice and signposting to appropriate services to assist.
- A confidential health worker service (for NHS staff).
- A confidential service for local authority and other public sector staff.
- Needle and Syringe Exchange Service.
- A variety of training packages including opiate overdose training and provision of Naloxone.
- A Liaison service to ensure smooth transition of care between Inpatient and Community Services.
- Harm Reduction Clinics.
- Peer Mentor support for service users.
The GSSMS Team
GSSMS has a variety of healthcare professionals within the team, these include: -
- Consultant Psychiatrists specialising in Addiction
- Other doctors (such as Core Trainees in Psychiatry, SAS doctors)
- Specialist Mental health and General trained Nurses in Addiction
- Advanced Nurse Practitioner
- Specialist Midwife
- Harm Reduction Nurse
- Sexual Health Nurse
- Psychological Therapists (including assistant psychological therapists)
- Peer Mentors
- Experienced Administrators
- Needle Exchange Coordinator
- Student Nurses
- Trainee psychological therapists.
- Specially trained liaison Nurse
- Highly Specialist Occupational Therapist
- Addiction Support Workers
- Housing Support Worker
Contacts
GSSMS North (Blaenau Gwent; Torfaen; Monmouthshire)
Hiraeth, Maindiff Court Hospital, Ross Road, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 8NF.
Telephone: 01873 735566
GSSMS South (Caerphilly; Newport)
139 Lower Dock Street, Newport, NP10 1EE
Telephone: 01633 216777
Pan-Gwent Email for referrals: ABB.GSSMS@wales.nhs.uk
EIS is focused on the early detection of, and recovery from, psychosis. We are a combined NHS and Hafal service for people aged between 14 and 35 living in the Gwent area. We support those who have either experienced a first episode of psychosis, or those deemed to be ‘at risk’ of developing psychosis. Our service is offered for up to 3 years from the first appointment.
EIS is community-based and recognises that young people often do not wish to attend clinic settings. As such, we offer to see people where they feel most comfortable, whether in their own home or in a neutral location such as a coffee shop or outside space. Our aim is to help young people access the wider community and to achieve their unique goals and aspirations. We strongly believe that recovery from psychosis is possible.
We offer a multidisciplinary approach based on a young person’s individual needs, including:
• Education about psychosis and how to stay well
• Support to access the wider community e.g. work, education, social activities
• Psychological interventions (talking therapies)
• Medication prescribing and monitoring
• Support for family and carers
If you would like further information about Early Intervention in Psychosis, please refer to the Psychosis Wales website.
What is psychosis?
‘Psychosis’ refers to when a person has trouble working out what’s real and what’s not. Some things you or others might notice are:
• Friends and family say you seem different
• Things seem different, unreal, or surreal
• Not doing well at school or work
• Not trusting people
• Withdrawing from friends, family, and activities
• Decrease or increase in energy
Some of the symptoms are:
• Feeling that there is a plot against you
• Feeling that your thoughts are being interfered with
• Seeing or hearing things that others don’t
• Changes in your mood or feeling more anxious
Who can refer to EIS?
Anyone can refer to EIS, and we even accept self-referrals. We encourage anyone who has concerns about a young person who may be developing psychosis to call us as soon as possible for a confidential discussion. Alternatively, email us with your number and we can call you back as soon as possible.
Download the Early Intervention in Psychosis Service Referral Form
A mental health crisis often means that you no longer feel able to cope or be in control of your situation.
You may feel great emotional distress or anxiety, cannot cope with day-to-day life or work, think about suicide or self-harm, or experience hallucinations and hearing voices.
A crisis can also be the result of an underlying medical condition, such as confusion or delusions caused by an infection, overdose, illicit drugs or intoxication with alcohol. Confusion may also be associated with dementia.
Whether you experience a sudden deterioration of an existing mental health problem or are experiencing problems for the first time, you'll need immediate expert assessment to identify the best course of action and stop you getting worse.
Read more information on our Mental Health Crisis page.