Psychology  

Dr Paul Bradley is a Clinical Psychologist specialising in the neuropsychology of MS and other less common neuroinflammatory diseases such as Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) and Neurosarcoidosis. Paul completed his doctoral training at the University of Birmingham in 2009 and has worked in community mental health services for older people and in memory assessment and neuropsychology teams before joining the team at the Helen Durham Centre in 2015.  

Paul’s role as a psychologist is to provide a psychological perspective to healthcare teams across South East Wales on the emotional impact of being diagnosed and living with MS, with the aim to improve understanding and widen access to services.  He covers the 3 health boards of Cardiff & Vale, Cwm Taf, and Aneurin Bevan).  His work also involves assessing cognitive changes associated with neuroinflammatory conditions and advising on and developing cognitive rehabilitation strategies. Paul works within the team, with team members, and makes recommendations on suitable psychological treatment options & care pathways within community and NHS primary care services, and signposts to suitable self-help mental health & wellbeing resources. Paul may assess some patients directly over the telephone, by video consultation or in an outpatient setting and may offer a limited number of treatment sessions as part of an overall wellbeing plan.

Junior staff

We currently have an Assistant Psychology post and the post holder has been working on a research project which aims to develop a cognitive screening pathway for all people diagnosed with MS that, if proved effective in the management of MS, will be adopted by the NHS nationally. Trainee Clinical Psychologists from Cardiff University, and other UK Universities, are encouraged to complete part of their training within the service and Undergraduate Psychologists from Cardiff University have also worked within the service to support its aims.

Referrals

Referrals to neuropsychology come from within the team.  If concerns are identified by any member of the team during their work with patients then advice may be given immediately and signposting to other services provided. Patients’ psychological needs may also be discussed within the team a suitable team member may respond and provide more specific advice and direction.  There is a particular emphasis on self-management and self-care within the service. There are many resources within the community that can help people living with MS who are experiencing emotional and psychological difficulties. If the issue is more complex then a referral to the neuropsychologist for assessment may indeed be appropriate.