The Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders Service (CNDS) is a specialist second opinion Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) service for children and young people.  We provide diagnostic assessments where there is uncertainty around diagnosis.  In addition we also provide consultation and management advice to local services concerning children and young people who already have an existing ASD diagnosis.

We provide a range of specialist services for both adults and children with autism and or learning disabilities or both. We work closely with other Trusts, Local Authorities and voluntary sector organisations.

Lennox is a seven bed unit providing comprehensive assessment and treatment for young people aged 12-18 with complex mild to moderate learning disability and a requirement of a high level of supervision in a medium secure environment.

Referrals are accepted from specialist mental health teams regionally, nationally and internationally. Informal enquiries are welcomed and advice can be given by telephone prior to referrals.

The Community Eating Disorder Service (CEDS) provides community support and hospital inreach. This specialist eating disorder service supports young people and their families in the community to manage their condition and prevent hospital admission. They provide family based therapy in a range of settings as well as specialist clinical assessment and inreach to paediatric and acute mental health settings.

Gateshead and Newcastle Homeless Service provides an assessment and treatment service for people who are homeless or who are living in insecure accommodation and who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health.

The service is for men and women over the age of 18 years who are homeless or living in insecure accommodation who require a period of assessment and treatment. In some circumstances someone aged 16-18 years old may be offered an assessment then referred to an appropriate service.

The service is provided by staff working out of Community Treatment Teams.

14 beds providing a behaviourally managed environment in which people with cognitive, emotional or behavioural outcome of an acquired brain injury can have access to rehabilitation.

How to get Referred:
Via Consultant

19 beds (with fully equipped interim flat) providing highly specialised and integrated multi disciplinary rehabilitation for adults following an acquired brain injury or other neurological disease/illness (patients must be medically stable).

How to get Referred
Via single point of access, Donna Lowther.

What we do

The Northern Region Gender Dysphoria Service is a service for people who experience persistent confusion and/or discomfort as a result of a discrepancy between their assigned sex and their gender identity. This includes people who want to change physical aspects of their gender as well as those who do not.

The Perinatal Community Mental Health Team provides a multidisciplinary service for women with mental health problems relating to pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood living in Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Sunderland and South Tyneside.

We care for women with a range of moderate to severe common mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and severe mental health disorders such as bi-polar, psychosis and schizophrenia.

The Regional Affective Disorders Service (RADS) is one of a limited number of specialist/tertiary level affective disorder services in the UK providing both out-patient and in-patient care for patients with difficult to treat mood disorders.

The Regional Affective Disorders Service is based in Newcastle upon Tyne which provides care for patients living in the North East of England, over the age of 18, with complex and/or treatment refractory affective disorders and other treatment refractory conditions complicated by an affective component.

The Regional Affective Disorders Service (RADS) is one of a limited number of specialist/tertiary level affective disorder services in the UK providing both out-patient and in-patient care for patients with difficult to treat mood disorders.

The Regional Affective Disorders Service is based in Newcastle upon Tyne which provides care for patients living in the North East of England, over the age of 18, with complex and/or treatment refractory affective disorders and other treatment refractory conditions complicated by an affective component.

The Regional Communication Aid Service is based at Walkergate Park and is a specialist Electronic Assistive Technology Service.  Our service aims to improve the independence of people of all ages who experience severe communication difficulties through the provision of specialised services for Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) Aids.  We support local teams in working with individuals to understand their AAC needs; and in providing specialised communication aids.

The Richardson Eating Disorder Intensive Day Service is a specialist service based at Benfield House, Walkergate Park Hospital in Newcastle, which provides comprehensive assessment and treatment for eating disorders. All patients referred into the day service need to have had a comprehensive assessment from The Richardson Eating Disorder Service or the Northern Centre for Eating Disorders.

Who is the Intensive Day Service for?

The service is for men and women aged 18 and over living in the northern and southern part of the North East of England.

The Richardson Eating Disorder Service (REDS) is a specialist tertiary service, located in Newcastle upon Tyne, providing comprehensive assessment and treatment for adults with moderate and severe eating disorders in North East England.  REDS provides treatment for males and females and has outpatient, intensive day hospital and inpatient services.

The Social, Therapeutic and Recreational Rehabilitation Team (STARRT), based at Walkergate Park  in Newcastle, provides social and recreational rehabilitation to inpatients in Walkergate Park.  STARRT work to promote independence and increase quality of life through taking part in social and leisure activities.  The team consists of a Nurse Team Lead and  qualified nursing staff, as well as activities facilitators and volunteers.

The Children and Young People’s Service provides a single service to all children and young people aged 0-18 years living in Newcastle and Gateshead who present with mental health difficulties.

This includes children and young people who may be living in difficult and challenging circumstances.

Click here to read more and download a wealth of resources to help support you.

Ferndene is based at the former Prudhoe Hospital site and provides regional and national Tier 4 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for children and young people between the ages of 13 and 18. Tier 4 CAMHS are for patients with more complex needs usually requiring inpatient treatment. Ferndene has three wards (Redburn, The Riding and Fraser) providing a total of 28 beds.

A four bed unit providing Psychiatric Intensive Care.

16 bedded neuro-psychiatry unit for assessment and treatment of neuro-psychiatric consequences of brain injury acquired in adult life and regional service for the assessment, diagnosis and management of Huntington’s disease.

We are a team of Consultant Psychiatrists, Mental Health Nurses and Junior Doctors, specialised in the assessment and treatment of adults with mental health needs admitted to the Acute Trust, covering RVI, Freeman and Cherryburn at Campus for Ageing and Vitality.

We are based at Richardson Unit, Leazes Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP.  Our working hours are 24 hours, 7 days a week.

We can offer bespoke training and education for wards and groups of clinicians.

Supporting your Independence

We provide a range of information, advice and support services relating to all aspects of disability. Our quality advice and support is free*, confidential and impartial. We also work to support carers and those working within the health and social care system.

Click here to find out more: Independent Living – Disability North

*There is a charge for some of our Direct Payment/payroll Support Services

Our vital service is available at no cost to families. Rainbow Trust is a charity, relying almost entirely on voluntary donations and the generosity of the public to deliver support.

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity supports families who have a child aged 0-18 years with a life-threatening or terminal illness.

We are a warm, caring and kind place because:

• We offer small group work and activities
• Parents/carers can discuss individual needs prior to visiting

The children and young people’s clinic cares for children and young people with a range of genital conditions. We also see children and young people with concerns about sexual abuse. 

Children and young people can be referred to our care by their GP or a doctor from another hospital. The Police or Children’s Services also refer children and young people to our service.

We are one of only two centres in the UK dedicated to treating children with immune system deficiencies.

Our pioneering new treatments enable children to lead normal, healthy lives free of all medication.

Part of the children’s immunology service, we are recognised as one of the leading clinical research units in Europe for children’s immunology and infectious diseases.

This includes Severe Combined Immune Deficiency Syndrome (SCIDS) and bone marrow transplants. 

The children and young people’s haematology and oncology service, cares for children and young people under the age of 21 who have cancer, leukaemia and other related diseases. 

Our department is one of the largest, most advanced in the UK, providing a comprehensive range of leading edge oncology services, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery.

We are the Regional Treatment Centre for all of the Northern region, treating patients from Teesside to Newcastle, and Northumberland to Cumbria.