Maternity Trauma and Loss Care Service (North West London)

We are a small team of:

• Psychological practitioners
• Specialist midwives
• Administrators.

We are passionate about, and dedicated to, supporting women, pregnant people and those who have experienced pregnancy or birth, through this difficult time in their lives.  We are open, friendly and welcoming. We are always keen to hear your feedback about using the service, to ensure it best meets your needs.   

The maternity trauma and loss care service is for people:

• Aged 18+
• Who are resident in one of the 8 North West London boroughs – Ealing, Hounslow, Hammersmith and Fulham, Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster.

For whom any of the following apply:

• You have a severe fear of childbirth (with or without previous experience of pregnancy)
• You're currently pregnant (and booked for maternity care with one of the 6 NWL maternity hospitals), have had a pregnancy or have given birth in the past 12 months, and are affected by:
  • A traumatic birth
  • Trauma due to baby loss during pregnancy or within the first year
    (please note that we only accept referrals that are one month post trauma/loss to allow for natural grieving/healing processes)
• You've experienced other traumatic events or experiences which are negatively impacting their current pregnancy or experience of parenting during the first year after giving birth. 
   

Please note that this service is currently unable to provide support for parents who have a baby that is no longer in their care; this includes women whose baby is in the care of the Local Authority.

The service does not accept referrals that are past 32 weeks of pregnancy.

We offer individualised and evidence-based care, taking into account what has or hasn’t helped in the past. We will work with women, pregnant people and those who have experienced pregnancy or birth, to ensure that treatment is suited to meet their particular needs.

Our team offers:

• Individual talking therapies
• Group therapies
• Emotional support
• Detailed birth planning
• Advice on other services that may be helpful now or in the future
• Information on support services for partners and significant others.

The service accepts both self-referrals and referrals from health and social care professionals, such as GPs, midwives or health visitors.  Consent must be obtained before any professional initiates a referral.

Please complete the relevant referral form and return it to the borough you/they live in:

Residents in Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington & Chelsea or Westminster

• Refer yourself to the service - Self-referral form
• Refer someone to the service - Professionals referral form 

Residents in Ealing, Hounslow or Hammersmith & Fulham 

• Refer yourself to the service - Self-referral form
• Refer someone to the service  - Professionals referral form

The Maternity Trauma and Loss Care Service will currently accept referrals if you are:

As soon as the specialise midwifery service is available in Hillingdon Hospital, women receiving maternity care from this hospital will be able to access the service.

What happens after referral?   

We will contact you on your preferred method of contact within two weeks to let you know whether our service is suitable to offer you a specialist assessment. It's fine to contact us if you haven't heard from us, please email us at cnwl.maternitytlc@nhs.net
    
All referrals will be triaged by a maternity trauma and loss care clinician, and if it's established that the service is suitable to provide support or treatment, an initial assessment appointment will be offered. 

Initial assessments will take place either face to face or online, as appropriate. If it's considered that there is a more appropriate service available, you will be contacted to discuss this further and offered advice and support with a referral to an alternative service.

Interpreting and translation
   
An interpreter can be requested to be present at appointments, either in person, via video or over the phone. It's also possible to request written information to be translated. Please let the team know if an interpreter or translation is required.

For non-pregnant women and those who have experienced pregnancy loss, stillbirth or a neonatal loss or birth trauma.

For pregnant women, the service is available only to those receiving care at the following maternity units:

• Chelsea & Westminster Hospital
• West Middlesex Hospital
• Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital
• St Mary’s Hospital
• Northwick Park Hospital
• Hillingdon Hospital

This service is formed of two teams, which cover specific boroughs and are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays).  Telephone and email enquiries are welcome from people directly and/or health and social care professionals.

Please be aware that the M-TLC Service is not an urgent / emergency service.  If help is required urgently, please contact the relevant Mental Health Single Point of Access, which is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year:

• If resident in Ealing, Hounslow or Hammersmith & Fulham: West London NHS Trust Mental Health Single Point of Access on 0800 328 4444.
• If resident in Brent, Harrow, Hillingdon, Kensington & Chelsea or Westminster: Central & North West London NHS Foundation Trust Single Point of Access on 0800 0234 650.