Regional Affective Disorders Service (RADS) – Inpatient Unit – Patient Information Leaflet

We hope this leaflet will provide you with information that you need whilst being in the Regional Affective Disorders Service inpatient unit at Gibside. If you are not sure about anything in this leaflet please ask a member of staff.

The Regional Affective Disorders Service provide a specialist service to people with difficult to treat mood disorders eg.bipolar or depressive illness. The inpatient unit is based at Gibside, St Nicholas Hospital, Gosforth.

The Regional Affective Disorders Service is for men and women over the age of 18 who have a mood disorder.

You have been referred to the unit by a Consultant who thinks that a period of treatment in hospital would be helpful.

When you arrive you will be welcomed by a member of the care team. They will explain what will happen during your stay and give you information. You will have time to settle in and have a look around your environment.

The length of stay depends upon your personal needs. The care team will involve you fully in discussion about this. All admissions are planned in a pre-admission visit to the ward.

There are a variety of social and recreational activities, such as healthy eating programme, relaxation, discharge planning, anxiety management, art groups and gardening.

If you would like an interpreter, staff will be able to help you to get one.

Contact Traveline:
Telephone: 0871 200 22 33
Website: www.traveline.info

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: www.cntw.nhs.uk/contact/complaints
• telephone the Complaints Department on 0191 245 6672
• email [email protected]

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 one’s 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.

North of Tyne
Telephone: 0800 032 0202
Email: [email protected]
Post: FREEPOST PALS

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 0NB

9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday

An answerphone is always available for you to leave a message. A member of the PALS team will aim to return your call as soon as possible.

Regional Affective Disorders Service
Gibside
St Nicholas Hospital
Jubilee Road
Gosforth
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE3 3XT

Telephone: 0191 245 6830
Telephone: 0191 245 6831

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 telephone the Patient Information Centre on 0191 246 7288

Published by the Patient Information Centre

2025 Copyright: Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Ref: PIC/58/0825 August 2025 V6

Telephone: 0191 246 7288
Website: www.cntw.nhs.uk

Review date 2028