Making a referral

The Tic Service provides specialist service for the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of young people with tic disorders who are already under the care of their local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) or Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Service (EWMHS). If another professional such as a Consultant Community Paediatrician would like to make a referral, and the young person does not present with any mental health challenges, we would be happy to consider it.

We are currently only able to accept referrals which meet the following four criteria:

1. The patient must be referred by their local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) or their community paediatrician and the child must be open to this service. By making the referral the referrer is agreeing that the patient will remain under the care of the referring team until they are discharged from the Tic Disorder Service. We do not accept GP referrals.
2. The child must be presenting with tics in the moderate-to-severe range. We require a detailed description of how the child’s tics are impacting physically, socially, educationally and/or emotionally.
3. If the young person has significant co-occurring mental health challenges, then we request that the referring local CAMHS team join the child’s initial assessment with our team. We can offer initial assessments in person and via telemedicine.
4. The child’s GP must be informed of the referral to our team.

Please note the Tic Service is currently not accepting referrals for patients with a primary diagnosis of persistent physical symptoms (e.g., Functional Neurological Disorder) in the absence of a tic disorder.

The service is provided in partnership with the locally-based CAMHS and paediatric services. All young people remain under the continuing care of their local services and only continue to be followed up at GOSH for as long as they require specialist services. Routine and acute risk should continue to be monitored and managed by local services.

To process a referral, we require the completion of our clinic referral form, and the inclusion of the following minimum information:

1. Name of child, NHS number (if applicable), GP details and local lead medical consultant
2. Whether an interpreter is required for the young person or family
3. Please include (if relevant) details about social services involvement and Parent/ Carer responsibility

1. Reason for the referral such as diagnostic, second opinion or referral for treatment
2. Detail of previous child mental health opinions and treatments
3. Referral letter with current information and referral question

1. Any relevant test results, including MRI, EEG, blood, urine, CSF and genetics
2. Other relevant assessments (e.g., cognitive assessments, speech and language assessments)

Please note referrals will not be processed if they do not arrive with the referral form. This will delay the triaging process.

Please send the referral form and any supporting information to the following address:

Tic Service

Psychological and Mental Health Service (PAMHS)

Level 5 Southwood Building

Great Ormond Street Hospital

Great Ormond Street

London

WC1N 3JH

Alternatively, please email your referral form to CAMHSSecretaries@gosh.nhs.uk