Our service offers video consultations using Attend Anywhere to patients wherever appropriate.
It is advisable to test your device in advance to check for any technical issues.
Further details can be found in the below leaflet
We provide a specialist service to women living in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) area and those attending any of the NHSGGC maternity hospitals. Our multi-disciplinary community team cares for women who are seeking pre-pregnancy advice or are pregnant. We also see women who are referred in the postnatal period and may remain involved up to 12 months postnatal.
We are a specialist multi-disciplinary team providing care and treatment to women who are pregnant or postnatal and are at risk of, or are affected by, mental illness. We also offer expert advice to women considering pregnancy if they are at risk of a serious mental illness.
We offer evidence-based treatments in a way that is best suited to you, your baby and family. Mental health problems are not uncommon during this time but they are known to respond well to care and treatment. We are able to see women at:
There are various reasons why you may have been referred. Perhaps:
Our multi-disciplinary team are a group of professionals with different skills and expertise who work together to provide a package of care and treatment that is appropriate for you. The team includes psychiatrists, mental health nurses, a nursery nurse, a social worker, healthcare assistant, support staff and administrative staff. We also have students on training placements.
Following an initial assessment your careplan will be tailored to your individual needs. Common treatments may include talking therapies, medication and working with you and your baby together. You may be offered the following:
This usually involves you attending one of our clinics where staff will assess your particular needs and discuss options regarding any care and treatment you may require.
We will usually either send you a letter with an appointment date or ask you to contact us by phone to make an appointment. There are clinics at various locations. Where possible, we will try to give you an appointment near your home or the hospital where you will deliver your baby.
At the first appointment we would ask you to bring your maternity record. You are welcome to bring a partner/family member or friend to the appointment, but we find it helpful to speak to you alone for some of the time.
It may be helpful to receive care and treatment in your own home. Our community outreach team can provide this. Staff from the team can work with you, your family and with others involved in your care e.g. your GP, midwife, health visitor or social worker.
Occasionally your midwife or obstetrician may ask us to see you while you are on the antenatal or postnatal wards. They will discuss this with you before we visit.
If you are pregnant and receiving care from the Perinatal Mental Health Service, then your psychiatrist and any other team members involved in your care will agree a mental health care and treatment plan with you. This plan will be agreed a few weeks before your delivery in preparation for the birth and the early postnatal period. With your agreement, the care and treatment plan will be shared with your midwife, obstetrician, GP, health visitor and others involved in your care to ensure that you receive the agreed treatment.
You will be allocated a named healthcare professional who will be your main point of contact via the telephone number for our service. If you need to speak to a healthcare professional outwith working hours call 111. In an emergency call 999.
If you are unable to keep your appointment we ask that you give us as much notice as possible if you need to rearrange or cancel your appointment. This allows us to make best use of our clinical time. To cancel or rearrange your appointment please call us.
If you need an interpreter to be present or require any specific support to attend your appointment please inform our administration staff when you receive your appointment letter.
We will ask for your consent before sharing any information with friends, family members and carers. Additional support is available for carers (see below).
When you talk with a health professional in private you will expect that what is said remains confidential. This principle is central to trust between patients and their doctor or other health professionals. Details of your care and treatment, including anything you tell us, remain confidential and will only be shared within our multidisciplinary clinical team (which includes health and social care staff).
All health professionals are bound by law and professional codes of conduct to this duty of confidentiality to their patients.
Once you have been seen, we will write back to the person who referred you. Usually we also send copies of our assessment to your GP, health visitor, obstetrician, midwife and social worker (if you have one) – unless you do not give permission for us to do so.
Occasionally there may be serious concerns for your safety or for the safety of others. In these circumstances we have a responsibility to discuss relevant information with other agencies, including social services, who can offer help, support and protection.
In most cases, you have the right to access you health records. You can discuss this with your Perinatal Team member. You can also do this by writing to the Medical Records Manager, Leverndale Hospital, 510 Crookston Road, Glasgow, G53 7TU.
If you are unhappy with any aspect of the service, please talk to a member of the team who will investigate the issues that you have raised and get back to you. Alternatively you may wish to contact the Nurse Team Leader on 0141 211 6500. If the issue cannot be resolved and you wish to make a formal complaint, staff will provide you with information outlining the process.
A carer is someone who looks after a partner, relative or friend who cannot manage without help because of illness, frailty or disability. They may or may not live together.
If you would benefit from support in your caring role, local carers services can help. They can provide you with help and support regarding a number of issues including access to respite, short breaks, information and advice on a wide range of topics, emotional support and access to carers support groups. To find information about your local carers service anywhere in Scotland please contact:
Telephone: 0141 353 6504
We accept referrals from a wide range of professionals. Please contact us for details on referral criteria and forms to access our services.
We provide an Advice line for Professionals to discuss referrals. This service is available weekdays (except Wednesday) from 9.30am to 12.30pm on 0141 211 6500.
Contact us at the Perinatal Mental Health Service and West of Scotland Mother and Baby Unit.
Main number: 0141 211 6500
West of Scotland MBU direct dial: 0141 211 6539
Advice line for professionals: 0141 211 6500
Perinatal Mental Health Service and West of Scotland Mother & Baby Unit
Leverndale Hospital
510 Crookston Road
Glasgow G53 7TU
To find out how to travel to the hospital, please call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or www.travelinescotland.com
Our ward staff are happy to suggest convenient accommodation options near to the hospital.
Call 0141 211 6539
Visit Scotland has a number of hotels, B&Bs, hostels, guest houses and self-catering options.
It is very understandable to feel distressed, worried, anxious and fearful at this difficult and uncertain time with Coronavirus, especially if you are pregnant or have recently had a baby. Please find below some websites and resources that we hope will be helpful in providing you with some information and suggestions for coping through this challenging time. These are likely to change on a regular basis, so please check the websites for their latest updates.
A carer is someone who looks after a partner, relative or friend who cannot manage without help because of illness, frailty or disability. They may or may not live together.
If you would benefit from support in your caring role, local carers services can help. They can provide you with help and support regarding a number of issues including access to respite, short breaks, information and advice on a wide range of topics, emotional support and access to carers support groups. To find information about your local carers service anywhere in Scotland please contact
Telephone: 0141 353 6504
A leading UK charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people.
A film for and by children who have a parent with a mental health problem, made in collaboration with Devon Partnership NHS trust.
This film has been made as an educational resource for both those experiencing perinatal mental health issues, and for health care professionals. It follow the ‘Maws’ journey through their own experiences of perinatal mental health. Exploring personal accounts of perinatal mental ill health, the aim is to encourage shared experiences and better health care support for new mums. Produced by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde and the Mental Health Network Glasgow.
This film tells the story of six women. Their recovery from extreme episodes of pre and post natal depression to how they overcame this.
A film for and by children who have a parent with a mental health problem, made in collaboration with Devon Partnership NHS trust.
Scotland’s first Mother and Baby Unit is located at Leverndale Hospital in Glasgow.
The Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) admits women who are experiencing severe mental illness in the later stages of pregnancy or if their baby is under 12 months old. The six bedded unit enables mothers to be supported in caring for their baby whilst having care and treatment for a range of mental illnesses including:
• postnatal depression
• postpartum psychosis
• severe anxiety disorders
• eating disorders.
Maintaining this contact is critical to the wellbeing of both mother and baby as it not only aids the mother’s recovery but also strengthens the mother-infant relationship and infant development.
We offer a wide range of medical, psychological and psychosocial interventions to women from across the West of Scotland. The unit is staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals including:
Watch a video virtual tour of the MBU
If your partner or someone you care for is in a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU), you are entitled to financial help with travel, meal costs and accommodation
Referrals to the MBU are accepted from mental health professionals for assessment by our team.
For referrals from out with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, the patient should be assessed by the local perinatal mental health service or a psychiatrist in the first instance.
The West of Scotland MBU serves the following NHS boards:
Admission can be agreed from other board areas following discussion with the team.
The Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) admits women who are experiencing severe mental illness in the later stages of pregnancy or if their baby is under 12 months old. The six bedded unit enables mothers to be supported in caring for their baby whilst having care and treatment for a range of mental illnesses including:
Maintaining this contact is critical to the wellbeing of both mother and baby as it not only aids the mother’s recovery but also strengthens the mother-infant relationship and infant development.
We offer a wide range of medical, psychological and psychosocial interventions to women from across the West of Scotland. The unit is staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals including:
Our YouTube video may help give you an idea of what to expect if you are admitted to the Mother and Baby Unit.
The MBU is located at Leverndale Hospital in Glasgow and can accommodate up to six mothers with their babies.
Our staff are specially trained to support you through your recovery and to help you in caring for your new baby. Any decisions about admission and treatment will be discussed with you and, where appropriate, with your family.
The unit tries, as much as possible, to maintain a homely atmosphere within the context of a hospital setting. You will be allocated a single room for you and your baby. You will also have access to a range of facilities including:
There are certain things you may need to bring including:
We will supply other equipment such as a cot, high chair, bath, bouncy chair, steriliser, bottle warmer and toys.
You should not bring:
The hospital does not accept any responsibility for loss of, or damage to, personal belongings unless handed in to staff for safekeeping and a receipt obtained.
A member of staff will meet you and show you to your room and explain the layout of the unit. They will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Staff will advise you of the usual routine within the unit and provide you with any equipment you may need for your baby during your stay. For safety reasons we will check through your belongings with you to ensure there are no sharp objects or medication which may have been brought into the unit.
Please tell staff if you:
Our focus is to help you get better as soon as possible and develop a healthy and safe relationship with your baby. We can help in a variety of ways and your care and treatment is provided by staff with extensive experience and expertise.
On admission, you will be informed of your Named Nurse and Named Nursery Nurse who will jointly develop a care plan that will meet your needs and provide any support you might need with your baby. You will also meet with a psychiatrist who will work with you to make a management plan during your admission. As part of your assessment, and with your permission, we will usually ask to meet with your partner and/or other family member.
Staff from our Multidisciplinary Team (described in the next section) will be available to assist you and your family with support in relation to finances, housing and family based issues. Staff will be available throughout your stay to discuss your treatment, progress and plans for discharge. The team will meet on a weekly basis to review your care.
Common treatments may include medication, talking therapies, group therapies and working with you and your baby together. There is a programme of therapeutic activities on the unit and your mental health and nursery nurses will plan individual and group activities with you.
A small number of patients are admitted to the unit under compulsory provisions of the Mental Health Act. If this is the case, staff will explain your rights under the Act and help you, if you wish, to appeal against your detention. Staff will also help you contact an independent advocacy service that can support you in putting across your views on your care and treatment.
The care you receive in hospital will be provided by a group of professionals with different skills and expertise called the multi-disciplinary team (MDT). They work together to provide a package of care and treatment that is appropriate for you. You may not personally meet all the members of this team but they will contribute to discussions about the most appropriate treatment package for you.
The members of a MDT commonly include:
The structured therapeutic activities within the ward are considered to be an integral component of your care and treatment and will be discussed with you during your admission. A timetable of meaningful activity is available on the ward.
Within the first few days you will be introduced to the team GP and health visitor. They will discuss with you any medical care your baby might need during your stay, or any advice and support you might want in relation to your baby’s wellbeing and development. The GP will also ask your permission to carry out a routine physical examination of your baby. Our health visitor will be available to monitor your baby’s development and administer any immunisations your baby might require during your stay. They will also keep in touch with your baby’s own GP and health visitor.
We all have a responsibility to ensure that the needs of your baby are always given priority. You will continue to have responsibility as a parent to ensure that your baby is kept safe and to help them grow and develop. Our staff will assess how you are able to care for your baby and offer support and guidance if required.
Depending on how your illness affects you, our staff may support and guide you in meeting your baby’s needs. If we have concerns that there are particular problems in caring for your baby, this will be discussed with you and, where relevant, your partner, about how the needs of your baby can be best met.
Sometimes staff may seek help for you and your baby from social services if we feel you need extra support or where there are concerns that your baby’s needs are not being met. On rare occasions it may be in your baby’s best interests to be cared for out with the hospital setting whilst you are recovering from your illness.
Booklets explaining parental responsibilities and rights are available from staff.
The hospital will give you a menu for choosing your meals. For more information please see the booklet ‘Information about Food and Health in Hospitals’ which is available in the ward. Halal, Kosher, Vegan and Allergen free meals are available on request. There are also meals available for those on specific medication regimes.
There are laundry facilities within the ward as we are a regional unit. Wherever possible, we do encourage relatives to take laundry for washing as per the Health Protection Scotland leaflet ‘Washing clothes at home: information for people in hospital or care homes and their relatives’. Please ask your nurse for a copy.
Leverndale Hospital is a teaching hospital; an important part of our work is clinical teaching and training of students in medical, nursing and other professions. You have the right to decide whether or not you wish to take part in student teaching.
The MBU adheres to the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde guidance to reduce the risk of cot death (Sudden Unexplained Death in Infants)
This includes bed-sharing, smoking, alcohol/drugs and sleep pods/positioners.
Whilst we recognise parents may make decisions about how they manage sleep practices for their baby at home, the MBU must take the necessary steps to ensure the best guidance is followed for the safety of your baby in hospital and we are unable to allow any practices that goes against this.
Our specialist staff are happy to work with you during your admission to help adapt any sleep practices.
If you feel this may be a barrier to your admission, please discuss this further with the clinician arranging your admission.
Mobile phones should only be used for outgoing calls. They should be switched off or in silent mode at other times to avoid disruption to your programme of care, and to other patients and their babies.
To protect patients’ privacy, camera phones must not be used to take photographs or recordings in any part of the hospital.
Due to the possible effects of medication and severe mental illness, we do not allow mothers to drive whilst admitted to the MBU.
You must tell the DVLA if you have a driving licence and develop a ‘notifiable’ medical condition/disability or your condition has got worse.
The DVLA website provides more information on:
Leverndale Hospital is a smoke-free hospital.
This means you are NOT allowed to smoke in any NHS building, entrance, doorway, grounds or car park.
Visitors to the hospital are NOT permitted to smoke anywhere within the hospital grounds.
Trying to stop smoking is one of the most important steps you can take for your own physical health. If you are coming into hospital and would like to stop smoking whilst an in-patient, please speak to nursing staff about the ‘Inpatient Smoking Cessation Service’. Nicotine Replacement Therapy will be offered to all smokers on admission.
We operate a ‘zero tolerance’ approach towards alcohol and illicit drugs within all of our facilities. If service users or visitors are found to be in possession of, using or supplying these substances on any of our premises, the police will automatically be informed. This could result in discharge, visitors being banned and criminal charges being brought.
Your visitors are welcome to come to the unit but we would ask that they telephone the ward beforehand to notify staff of their intention to visit. The numbers of visitors may be limited as it is difficult to accommodate a large number at one time. We would appreciate your co-operation with the following:
Families may have to travel some distance when visiting the unit. If your partner or other family members would like information regarding overnight accommodation in Glasgow, please ask them to speak to a member of staff. Assistance with travel costs may be available from your local Social Work Department. We can help you contact them if necessary.
If you would like to discuss any spiritual needs or see someone from your own faith, please ask to speak to the healthcare chaplain. They can speak with you or find someone of your own faith for you to talk to. You don’t have to be religious or to belong to any particular faith to talk to the chaplain;
Ms Anne MacDonald DCS, Leverndale Hospital, 510 Crookston Road, Glasgow G53 7TU. Telephone: 0141 211 6695
If you have any particular needs concerning your faith or beliefs, please make these known to a member of staff.
Our service aims to provide care that meets your physical, psychological, spiritual, cultural and social needs. Here are some of the ways in which the hospital might meet your individual needs:
• Providing an interpreting service for patients whose first language is not English
• Providing a sign language interpreter for patients who are Deaf, Partially Sighted or Blind
• Offering food which meets your religious and cultural requirements
• Help in arranging visits from your church or faith community
At any time during your stay in hospital you may ask for any of these services by speaking to the nursing staff.
There are a number of Money Advice Services. These services can:
Please approach a member of staff for information on this service
After your admission, we will start to plan with you arrangements for your discharge home. This helps to avoid any unnecessary delays to your discharge. We will liaise regularly with the relevant health and social care teams to plan any ongoing care and treatment that you may require after discharge.
Preparation for your discharge will be made according to your individual need. To help you adjust to being home again, you may have periods of leave from the unit. This usually begins with a few hours out and can be increased to one or more days and nights out at a time.
When you eventually return home, we will arrange for you to be seen by a psychiatrist or community psychiatric nurse (CPN) and, where appropriate, a social worker. If you live in the Glasgow area, this is likely to be a member of staff from the Perinatal Mental Health Service Community Team. We will also contact your GP and health visitor, and any other services involved in your care to let them know about the plans for your ongoing care and treatment. For those living out with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde we will work closely with your local services to ensure you have safe and effective follow-up.
If you are prescribed medication you will receive a seven day supply before you leave the unit. You should make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible after discharge to obtain further prescriptions for your medication.
When you talk with a health professional in private you will expect that what is said remains confidential. This principle is central to trust between patients and their doctor or other health professionals. Details of your care and treatment, including anything you tell us, remain confidential and will only be shared within our multidisciplinary clinical team (which includes health and social care staff).
All health professionals are bound by law and professional codes of conduct to this duty of confidentiality to their patients.
We will ask for your consent before sharing any information with friends, family members and carers.
Once you have been discharged, we will write to your GP, health visitor, obstetrician, midwife and social worker (if you have one).
Occasionally there may be serious concerns for your safety or for the safety of others. In these circumstances we have a responsibility to discuss relevant information with other agencies, including social services, who can offer help, support and protection.
In most cases, you have the right to access you health records. You can discuss this with your doctor or named nurse. You can also do this by writing to the Medical Records Manager, Leverndale Hospital, 510 Crookston Road, Glasgow, G53 7TU.
Independent advocacy helps you to make your voice stronger and to have as much control as possible over your life.
Independent advocacy workers are separate from services. They do not work for hospitals, social work or other services. This might be useful if you feel you need support to speak up, to understand what is being said and to make decisions. Many people find that when they feel ill or upset they are not as good at saying what they want and they need support to speak up.
Please ask a member of staff for further details.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde takes extremely seriously the health, safety and welfare of all its employees, patients and visitors. It believes that violence and/or aggression towards staff and others is unacceptable.
Staff have a right to be able to perform their duties without fear of abuse or violent acts from patients or members of the public. No member of staff should consider violence or aggression to be an acceptable part of their employment.
In cases of incidents involving violence and aggression against members of staff, encouragement and support will be given to the individual involved to enable them to pursue the incident through reporting it to the Police.
If you are unhappy with any aspect of the service, please talk to a member of the team who will investigate the issues that you have raised and get back to you.
Alternatively you may wish to contact the MBU Ward manager.
If the issue cannot be resolved and you wish to make a formal complaint, staff will provide you with information outlining the process.
We also welcome positive feedback.
A carer is someone who looks after a partner, relative or friend who cannot manage without help because of illness, frailty or disability. They may or may not live together.
If you would benefit from support in your caring role, local carers services can help. They can provide you with help and support regarding a number of issues including access to respite, short breaks, information and advice on a wide range of topics, emotional support and access to carers support groups.
To find information about your local carers service anywhere in Scotland please contact
Telephone: 0141 353 6504
If you want to find out how to travel to the hospital please call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 or see www.travelinescotland.com
Our ward staff are happy to suggest convenient accommodation options near to the hospital. Call 0141 211 6539.
Visit Scotland has a number of hotels, B&Bs, hostels, guest houses and self-catering options.
If your partner or someone you care for is in a Mother and Baby Unit (MBU), you are entitled to financial help with travel, meal costs and accommodation.
Telephone: 0141 211 6500
We provide an Advice line for Professionals to discuss referrals.
This service is available weekdays (except Wednesday) from 9.30am to 12.30pm.
We accept referrals for patients living within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
REFERRAL FORM – Please read Referral Criteria on page 3 before completing the referral form
Telephone MBU direct dial: 0141 211 6539
Please call us to discuss admissions.
Patients from West of Scotland are usually admitted with their babies, and in some circumstance in late pregnancy.
It is important that mothers considering admission have read the FAQ for MBU inpatients, especially information on
The following resources are helpful for professionals referring to our service.
Scotland’s first specialist perinatal mental health inpatient and community service for mothers, babies and their families.
We are a comprehensive service providing care and treatment to women who are pregnant or are up to one year postnatal and are at risk of, or are affected by, mental illness. We also offer expert advice to women considering pregnancy if they are at risk of a serious mental illness.
Our service consists of:
Scotland’s first MBU for perinatal mental health was opened in September 2004 at the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow.
We are now called the West of Scotland Mother & Baby Unit and relocated to Leverndale Hospital in January 2014.
The CPMHT cares for people across the whole NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area.
We also provide a maternity liaison service to all NHSGGC Maternity hospitals.
Around 1 in 10 women will experience postnatal depression after having a baby. Depression and anxiety are equally as common during pregnancy. Most women recover with help from their GP, health visitor, midwife and with support from family and friends. However severe depression requires additional help from mental health services.
The symptoms of postnatal depression are similar to those in depression at other times. These include low mood, sleep and appetite problems, poor motivation and pessimistic or negative thinking.
Two in 1000 women will experience postpartum psychosis. The symptoms of this illness can come on quite rapidly, often within the first few days or weeks after delivery, and can include high mood (mania), depression, confusion, hallucinations (odd experiences) and delusions (unusual beliefs). Admission to a MBU is advised for most women, accompanied by their baby. Women usually make a full recovery but treatment is urgently necessary if symptoms of postpartum psychosis develop.