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Information about the NACC Counselling Project 1997 - 2001
The aims of the project were:
 to
use the knowledge gained through the NACC Counselling Research Project
to offer a short training course in IBD to qualified and experienced
counsellors on condition that they provided a service for IBD patients
and their families in their area
to
evaluate the best means of encouraging use of the services
to
evaluate how such a counselling service could be financed
In October 1997, NACC recruited eleven self-employed
counsellors who undertook training organised by NACC. This covered the
emotional and physical effects of IBD, the services already provided by
NACC and an understanding how the NHS provides care for people who have
IBD.
Although many doctors supported the idea of
counselling being offered as a part of the hospital services for people
with IBD, obtaining funding through the NHS was only possible at
Bridgend. NACC therefore undertook a fundraising appeal together with
those interested in the Project. Through the support of
gastroenterologists' Departmental funds, NACC Groups and a national
appeal, sufficient money was raised for each counsellor to provide
counselling sessions for half a day a fortnight in at least one hospital
over two years.
The Hospitals where the counsellors operated
were:
King
George's Hospital, Ilford
Chase
Farm and Barnet Hospitals
University
of Wales Hospital, Cardiff
Royal
London Hospital, Whitechapel
Queen
Elizabeth II Hospital, Welwyn
West
Middlesex University Hospital, Isleworth
Princess
of Wales Hospital, Bridgend
Derriford
Hospital, Plymouth
Ipswich
Hospital
Victoria
Hospital, Blackpool
Southampton
University Hospital
Royal
Sussex County Hospital, Brighton
North
Middlesex
Through the Project a great deal was learned about
providing specialist counselling for patients in a secondary care
context.
If you would like to read the summary of the Report
and Evaluation of the NACC Counselling Project, this can be
downloaded by clicking here.
Finding a Counsellor for IBD
NHS and charitable funding has enabled the service
to continue in only a few hospitals; in other areas the Counsellors are
still available to see people through GP referral, by private
arrangement or through private health insurance. If you would like to
see a Specialist IBD Counsellor and live close to one of these areas,
please ring the NACC Information Line for further details. The number to
call is 0845 130 2233. Please note that the counsellors now provide their
services independently and not as part of NACC
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Barnet
(Herts)
Brecon
(Wales)
Colchester
Hatfield
(Herts)
Huntingdon
(Cambs) |
Theydon
Bois (Essex)
Worthing
London
- Barnes
- Barbican
Redruth,
Cornwall |
Dr Gillian Thomas, NACC Counselling Adviser, also
works as an IBD specialist counsellor alongside the gastroenterology
team at the Royal Berkshire Hospital..
NACC has an Information Sheet on ‘How counselling
can help you’ which includes information on how to find a counsellor |
