Learn more about our Dean Clinics

Click on the questions you're interested in below to see the answers.

Referrals and assessments

• How do I get referred to the Dean Clinics?

  If you are not currently a service user in SPMHS, the best place to start in accessing the Dean Clinics is with your GP. They can assess if you would benefit from mental healthcare, and, if they find this would help, they may send a referral to our Referral and Assessment Service. One of our consultant psychiatrists will review this referral to see if we have a service that would suit your needs. This might include treatment at a Dean Clinic.

  If you are currently in our inpatient or Homecare services, you might be referred to the Dean Clinics for follow-up care by a member of your MDT.

• What happens after I am referred?

  If you are referred to the Dean Clinic by your GP, you will receive a mental health assessment when your referral is confirmed with your GP. The Dean Clinic team will confirm a date for the assessment with you in advance. Once your assessment is confirmed, you can reschedule the date for this if you need to; please give up to 72 hours notice for this to avoid a cancellation fee (see more below). Please note that first assessments are for initial psychiatric assessment and not for the purpose of medico-legal reports. Medico-legal reports will not be provided.

  If you are receiving care in another service in SPMHS and are referred by the team, you will not need an assessment. You will have previously had a mental health assessment on your admission, and the team referring you will be aware of your mental health needs.

• Is there anything I should have ready for my assessment?

  Your GP should ensure that they have sent full blood count (FBC), thyroid function test (TFT), renal and liver function test (LFT) blood results by post or fax ahead of the assessment, as these will reviewed as part of the assessment.

  We recommend that you allow up to three hours for the assessment, as you will be seen by different clinicians as part of this. If you are attending the assessment in-person, we recommend that you arrive 15 minutes ahead of the booking time to complete any necessary documentation.

  If you have health insurance, please have your insurance details available (health insurer name, plan, and policy number) also.

• Can I choose which Dean Clinic I attend?

  The Dean Clinic you are referred to depends on the services that would best fit your needs; for example, if you need to attend a specialist service that is only delivered in one clinic only, then you will be referred to that specific clinic. Your location is always into consideration and the Dean Clinic closest to you will be offered in the first instance, except if you need to attend a specialist clinic not offered in your location.

• What is a review appointment?

  A review appointment is any appointment with a Dean Clinic following your mental health assessment or hospital admission to SPMHS.

   

• Are Dean Clinic services remote or in-person?

  Your Dean Clinic appointments may take place in-person or remotely through video calls on Microsoft Teams (MS Teams) or phone conferencing, depending on your treatment plan.  

Remote appointments

• How do I attend appointments remotely?

  Remote appointments can take place by video on MS Teams or phone. If you do not have access to a computer or laptop, you can use a smartphone or tablet for your appointments.

  You will receive a reminder of your appointment by text in advance of your appointment. You will also receive a reminder email if you’re signed up to Your Portal, our online patient platform. You can learn more here about types of notifications you will receive.

  If your appointment is taking place on MS Teams, the notification will include a link for you to connect with your clinician by video at your scheduled appointment time. You can forward text message notifications with video links to your email. You can also access the video link in Your Portal if you are registered to use this. There is a guide to using MS Teams available here.

  If your appointment is taking place by telephone, your clinician will contact you at your scheduled appointment time.

  Please do allow 30 minutes before and after your appointment time to be contacted.

• Is there technical support for attending remotely?

  We have technical support available for all our Dean Clinic service users.

  If you have any difficulty using MS Teams, you can contact our Service User IT Support (SUITS) team by calling 01 249 3629 or by emailing suits@stpatricks.ie. The team is available from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday; they monitor and respond to telephone and email queries during these times. Voicemail and emails left out of hours will be followed up the next working day.

  If you have technical trouble at the time of your appointment, you can contact your Dean Clinic by phone or email, and the team there will inform your clinician. You can also contact SUITS for assistance.

  If there is a problem which means your clinician is unable to reach you by video at your appointment time, they will telephone you instead.

• How do I get prescriptions when attending remotely?

  You will be asked to name a preferred pharmacy for your prescriptions to go to, and we will keep a record of this on file.

  If you are prescribed medication at a remote Dean Clinic appointment, the clinician typically checks again with you during your appointment where the prescription should be sent to. Your prescription will be securely emailed to your preferred pharmacy, or posted directly to you in some circumstances, within 24 hours. Your pharmacy will then make arrangements with you for the delivery or collection of your prescription. Please be aware there is a prescription fee, which will be discussed with you.

  Please do let your clinic know if you change pharmacies.

  If you need a prescription before your next Dean Clinic appointment is due, please contact your consultant’s medical secretary, who will liaise with your clinical team.

• How do I book my next remote appointment?

  Your clinician will inform the Dean Clinic administrators when your next appointment will be. Your Dean Clinic administrators schedule your appointment and you will receive an appointment notification by text message or through Your Portal if you are registered to it.

• Can I rearrange my appointment?

  Please note that every MDT routinely attends the Dean Clinic on a specific day of the week and changing the appointment to another day of the week is often not possible. However, if a date booked for your appointment is not suitable, please contact your Dean Clinic by telephone or email to reschedule, giving more than 48 hours notice to avoid a cancellation fee (see below for more information).

In-person appointments

• Will I get reminders of my in-person appointments?

  You will get reminders of your in-person Dean Clinic appointments. You can learn more about notifications here; the type of notification you receive depends on the service you are attending and whether you are signed up to Your Portal.

• How do I get to the Dean Clinic for my appointment?

  You can get addresses and transport information for each clinic on its individual page. You can see our Dean Clinic network here and choose which clinic you need to get information for. The Dean Clinic administrator who will be in touch with you about your appointments will also be able to provide information.

• What happens when I arrive at the Dean Clinic?

  We recommend that you arrive at the clinic 10 minutes before your appointment. When you arrive at the clinic, please check in at reception. There is a seating area in each clinic where you can then wait for your appointment. The Dean Clinic administrator will let you know if you need to fill out any documentation while you are waiting for your appointment.  They will also let the team know that you’ve arrived and the clinician will call you in for your appointment.

• How do I book my next in-person appointment?

  Your administrator will be informed by your clinician as to when your next appointment will be. This may be discussed with you before you leave the clinic following your appointment, and you will receive notification of your appointment by test message or Your Portal if registered.

  If you need to change the date or time of your appointment, please phone or email your Dean Clinic administrator to arrange a suitable appointment. Please give at least 48 hours notice to avoid a cancellation fee (more information on this can be found below).