ECT Department – Hopewood Park – patient information leaflet
This booklet is for you, your family and friends if you have been referred for/or considering Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). It has been produced to try and allay your fears by providing pictorial information about the department and explain what will happen when you come for treatment.

This leaflet may not be reproduced in whole or in part, without the permission of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
ECT Department - Hopewood Park
Patient information leaflet
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Welcome to the ECT Department
Hello!
This booklet is for you, your family and friends if you have been referred for/or considering Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT).
ECT is a treatment for some types of severe mental illnesses that may not have responded to other treatments.
The thought of the treatment itself can be scary and difficult to comprehend, sometimes this is partly due to people not knowing what to expect. Your medical team will discuss the treatment with you and you will be provided with literature to help you understand and make an informed decision.
This booklet has been produced to try and allay your fears by providing pictorial information about the department and explain what will happen when you come for treatment.
Visits to the department prior to treatment are always welcome; however, we realise that some people are unable to do so or may not want to – so, we hope this will help.
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Waiting and clerking area
You will be escorted to the department by a member of staff who know you or a family member (if an outpatient) to ensure you feel comfortable and supported.
When you arrive at the department you will be shown into the waiting and clerking-in area, where you will be welcomed by a member of the ECT nursing team.
Here you will be asked some simple questions about preparation prior to treatment, such as: when you last ate or drank, have you taken any medications, if you have any concerns.
You will also be asked the following orientation questions:
• Your full name
• Your date of birth
• The town or city you live in
• The name of the hospital you are in
• The dateThese questions will be asked again following treatment.
We will then take your temperature and pass all the information over to the team before taking you through to the treatment room.
You may be asked to take a Rapid Lateral Flow Test (LFT) at the ECT clinic. This would test for Covid-19. ECT staff will discuss this with you at the clinic, if required.
The tests are quick, easy and painless.
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The treatment room
You will be shown into the treatment room and asked to remove any outerwear, so you can be monitored throughout the treatment. It might be best to wear a t-shirt or thin long sleeved top under any cardigans or thick jumpers.
You will be asked to lie down on the bed and to try to relax. If you are particularly anxious your escorting nurse can come into the treatment room with you until you are asleep.
Sticky pads will be placed on your chest, a cuff around your arm and a small probe on your finger to monitor your breathing and heart rate throughout the treatment. This will be carried out by an anaesthetic assistant.
The ECT Nurse will clean your brow, temples and behind your ears with alcohol wipes before applying some EEG stickers to those areas.
This is to monitor the seizure.
The anaesthetist will insert a needle either in the back of your hand or in your arm.
Oxygen will be given through a face mask.
The anaesthetist will then administer the medication which will make you go to sleep and relax your muscles.
This is only for a short time, and you will be monitored throughout.
Following your treatment, you will be recovered in the treatment room for a period of 20 minutes or longer.
During this period, you will receive oxygen through a mask, continue to have your physical health observations monitored and allowed time to rest and wake until you feel able to get up – following this you will be taken to the recovery room.
Some equipment you may see in the treatment room:
- ECT machine which will deliver the electric current
- Anaesthetic machine
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The staff
Our team consists of the following:
• A Specialist Nurse
• A Clinical Lead Nurse
• Two Staff Nurses
• A Trust Lead ECT Consultant
• A Locality Lead Consultant
• A Lead Anaesthetist and associatesIn the treatment room there will be four essential staff members:
• A consultant psychiatrist –the doctor who administers the treatment
• A consultant anaesthetist –the doctor who administers the medication to help you go to sleep
• An ECT nurse – assists with administration of treatment and assists in recovery following the treatment
• An Operating Department Practitioner/anaesthetic nurse – assists the anaesthetistSometimes a trainee doctor is present in the room. This is a qualified doctor who is gaining experience in ECT and may deliver your treatment under supervision of the consultant. Medical students may also be present and you will be asked at clerking if you don’t want them to be present.
Staff may need to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) in the clinic. This is for your safety and their own.
On very rare occasions, staff may need to wear additional personal protective equipment (PPE). This is for your safety, and theirs, so don’t be alarmed!All staff will introduce themselves.
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The recovery room
The recovery room is a small quiet room in which you have time to sit and recover a little more. It has facilities for you to have a hot or cold drink and something to eat following treatment.
You will be greeted by your escorting nurse or family member and the ECT recovery nurse will be on hand to monitor and reassure you.
The ECT recovery nurse will again check your physical observations at specific intervals, remove the needle out of your hand and ask you the orientation questions as well as observe you closely.
When fully recovered, you can return to your ward/home. As you have had a general anaesthetic you must remain in the company of a responsible adult for 24 hours and follow all guidelines in Post Treatment Information for Patients Receiving ECT leaflet.
We hope this has been helpful and wish you a speedy recovery!
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Our contact details are:
As mentioned earlier we welcome visits to the department prior to treatment and this is easily arranged by speaking to the ECT staff – feel free to contact the suite at any time.
Hopewood Park ECT
Barton Centre
Hopewood Park
Waterworks Road
Ryhope
Sunderland
SR2 0NBTelephone: 0191 566 5745
Sessions are held on Tuesday and Friday, 8am to 1pm
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How to make a comment, suggestion, compliment or complaint
If you want to make a comment, suggestion, compliment or complaint you can:
- talk to the people directly involved in your care
- ask a member of staff for a feedback form, or complete a form on the Trust website
- telephone the Complaints Department on 0191 245 6672
- email [email protected]. Please note that information sent to the Trust via email is sent at your own risk
We are always looking at ways to improve services. Your feedback allows us to monitor the quality of our services and act upon issues that you bring to our attention. You can provide feedback in the following ways:
- the quickest way for you to do this is to complete our short online survey at www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourvoice
- complete a Your Voice survey, available on wards, reception areas or from staff
- other options for sharing your feedback and experience www.cntw.nhs.uk/yourfeedback
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
PALS provide confidential advice and support, helping you to sort out any concerns that you may have about any aspect of your or your loved ones care.We act independently when handling patient and family concerns, liaising with staff, managers and, where appropriate, relevant organisations, to negotiate prompt solutions. If necessary, we can also refer patients and families to specific local or national-based support agencies.
South of Tyne
Telephone: 0800 328 4397
Text: 07825 061 035
Email: [email protected]
Post: Patient Advice and Liaison Service, Garden Lodge, Hopewood Park, Ryhope, Sunderland, SR2 0NB9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday
An answerphone is available at all times for you to leave a message. A member of the PALS team will aim to return your call as soon as possible.
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Useful contacts
Care Quality Commission (CQC)
CQC National Customer Service Centre
City Gate
Gallowgate
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4PAEmail: [email protected]
Website: www.cqc.org.uk
Telephone: 03000 61 61 61Advocacy Services
Sunderland VoiceAbility
c/o Sayer Vincent
Invicta House
108-114 Golden Lane
London
EC1Y 0TLEmail: [email protected]
Website: www.voiceability.org
Telephone: 0300 303 1660Sometimes it can be difficult for people to speak up for themselves. An advocate is somebody who can work with you to help you have your say about things.
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Information about content, other formats and version control
Further information about the content, reference sources or production of this leaflet can be obtained from the Patient Information Centre. If you would like to tell us what you think about this leaflet please get in touch.
This information can be made available in a range of formats on request (Braille, audio, larger print, easy read, BSL or other languages). Please contact the Patient Information Centre on 0191 246 7288.
Published by the Patient Information Centre
2024 Copyright: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation TrustRef: PIC/849/1124 November 2024 V3
Website: www.cntw.nhs.uk
Telephone: 0191 246 7288Review date 2025