Information for Patients
Seeing your GP
All people experience mental distress at times in their lives. Fortunately, for most this is short lived and does not require anything other than the support of family and friends and the passage of time to resolve. However, if you are experiencing persistent and disabling mental distress you should consider talking to your GP who will be able to advise and guide you towards the right type of help. Most mental health problems are managed very well in primary care and there are many helpful support groups and counselling/psychology services available in the community.
Click here or here for information on mental health conditions.
Being Referred to Cluain Mhuire
If your GP feels that your mental health difficulties require more specialised or intensive input than can be provided at primary care level they may refer you to a secondary mental health service such as Cluain Mhuire. The Cluain Mhuire Service is a publicly funded, community based, adult mental health service, providing assessment, treatment and care planning for people aged between 18 and 65 who reside permanently within the designated catchment area. The Cluain Mhuire Service aims to facilitate recovery from mental health difficulties in the community rather than in hospital and as such it provides a wide variety of community based services and treatments across a number of centres.
In an urgent situation ‘Out of office hours’ please contact your own GP or GP 24 hours on Call service. This will ensure prompt attention.
If there is a medical emergency ie Overdose of medicines or other physical emergency, you should go to your nearest Accident and Emergency department.
Please note A & E departments have to prioritise emergencies & there could be a significant wait & cost, if you present there without a GP referral letter.
GP Out of Hours Service
This service provides you and your family with access to family doctor services outside of normal hours.
DL DOC
St. Michael’s Hospital, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin
Mon-Fri 6pm-10pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm
Tel: (01) 663 9869 Fax: (01) 663 9870
After opening Hours
Tel 01 4539333
EAST DOC
St. Vincent’s Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4
Mon-Fri 6pm-10pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm
Tel: (01) 221 4021 Fax: (01) 209 4026
Assessment in Cluain Mhuire
When a referral is received in Cluain Mhuire it will be discussed by the team on duty. Before an assessment is arranged, additional information may be sought from you or your GP or, with your permission, from other services you may have attended in the past. Occasionally, rather than arrange an assessment, advice will be provided to your GP who will then continue to assist you and may re-refer to Cluain Mhuire in the future depending on progress. An assessment appointment will be arranged, usually within a few days or weeks depending on the level of urgency. The initial assessment may be with any of the multidisciplinary team; a psychiatrist, a community mental health nurse, a psychologist, a mental health social worker or a mental health occupational therapist. You may wish to bring somebody with you to the initial appointment for support and in order to provide another perspective on your difficulties.
Follow Up
Following the initial assessment, your situation will be discussed by the multidisciplinary team (see above link) and an initial care-plan will be put in place. You may be given advice about managing your mental health, information about helpful services in the community and advised to follow up with your GP who could re-refer you in the future if the need arose. A follow up appointment may also be made to check on your progress. Your GP will always receive a detailed report of the assessment (you can also receive a written summary of the assessment if you wish).
Alternatively, following the initial assessment, you may be referred for further specialist treatment within the Cluain Mhuire Service.