Psycho-oncology

The psycho-oncology service is made up of 3 main teams.

Mental health doctors and nurses

• Dr Anita Ghosh – Consultant Psychiatrist
• Dr Daniel Anderson – Consultant Psychiatrist
• Dr Olivia Macnamara – Speciality Doctor in Psycho-oncology 
• Tiam Moon Lau – Psycho-oncology Lead Nurse
• Richard Pattison – Psychological Nurse Specialist
• Jo Qurashi – Psychological Nurse Specialist
• Dionne Hull – Psychological Nurse Specialist
• Rachael Smith – Psychological Nurse Specialist

Psychological therapists

• Dr Colsom Bashir – Clinical psychologist
• Ms Dana Braithwaite – Psychosexual Psychotherapist
• Kerry Nair – Counsellor

Administration

• Gillian Burns – PA in Psycho Oncology
• Chris Lam – Support Secretary

The psycho-oncology service is a team of mental health professionals  at The Christie who support adults affected by cancer, especially those facing more complex emotional or psychological challenges.

Support in hospital

If someone is in hospital and experiencing serious emotional or psychological distress, they may be referred to the psycho-oncology team for specialist support. This could include people who are feeling overwhelmed, severely anxious, depressed, or struggling to cope with their diagnosis or treatment.

The team aims to assess patients within two working days and works closely with hospital staff to help manage complex mental health needs and ensure safety and wellbeing during their stay.

Support for outpatients

People not staying in hospital can also be referred to the service if they are experiencing more serious emotional distress. This includes people who are finding it hard to continue with cancer treatment because of mental health issue, or who have a history of severe mental illness but aren’t currently under the care of mental health services.

The team offers assessments and, if needed, follow-up care which may include psychological therapies or mental health support.

Different types of support available

Depending on a person’s situation, the service offers a range of support options:

• Mental health support: Short-term help for managing distress, anxiety, or low mood, and building resilience during treatment.
• Day patient support: Flexible support for people attending hospital frequently, such as for radiotherapy.
• Psychological therapies: Specialist talking therapies for people dealing with more serious or long-term emotional effects of cancer, such as trauma or depression.
• Psychosexual support: Support for relationship and sexual difficulties linked to cancer or its treatment, offered by a specially trained therapist.

Working together for joined-up care

The psycho-oncology team works closely with cancer teams, GPs, and mental health services to make sure care is well coordinated and focused on the whole person—not just the illness

The psycho-oncology service supports adults affected by cancer who are finding it especially difficult to cope with their emotional or mental wellbeing.

Not all patients will require specialist input — for many, support from close ones (family, carers, friends), the treating team, or local cancer support services will be sufficient. However, for those who need more specialist psychological or psychiatric support, please refer patients following the process below.

How referrals work

Referrals must be made by hospital staff — usually the treating team — using a secure online system. This ensures information is kept safe and allows the team to respond quickly. We do not accept referrals by email, letter, or fax.

If you’re unsure whether a referral is appropriate, please contact the psycho-oncology team for advice or guidance. We are happy to discuss potential referrals.

Who to refer

While in hospital (inpatient)

Patients staying in hospital can be referred if they are experiencing significant distress, anxiety, low mood, or other mental health concerns linked to their cancer.

There are no strict criteria, but the patient’s consent is needed wherever possible. If someone is unable to make decisions for themselves, a referral may still go ahead under the appropriate legal framework, based on what is in their best interests.

While at home or attending appointments (outpatient)

If a patient requires specialist psycho-oncology support, referrals can be made based on the following outpatient referral criteria:

• The patient is struggling emotionally to the extent that it is affecting their ability to continue or benefit from cancer treatment.
• The patient has a history of serious mental health issues and is not currently receiving specialist support.
• The patient is experiencing high levels of distress, with associated risks such as self-harm, self-neglect, or increased vulnerability.
• The patient has had recent changes in mental health medication, or past support during cancer care has not been effective.

Urgent mental health crisis support

If you or someone you care for is experiencing a mental health crisis, it's important to seek support as soon as possible. The psycho-oncology team is a hospital-based service and does not provide crisis support in the community.

You can start by contacting your GP for urgent assistance, or, if there is an immediate risk of harm, call emergency services by dialling 999 or visit your nearest Accident & Emergency (A&E) department.

You can also access crisis support through NHS 111 by selecting option 2, which connects you to mental health professionals who can guide you through the situation. Many areas have local mental health crisis helplines that provide immediate support and advice.

If you're at The Christie hospital and experiencing a mental health crisis, psycho-oncology team will aim to provide a timely response during working hours. Outside of these hours, healthcare professionals on-site can help by reaching out to the on-call psychiatry team at Wythenshawe Hospital for urgent phone advice.

If you need to get in touch with the psycho-oncology team, please use the following contact details:

Address:

Psycho-oncology
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
Manchester
M20 4BX

Contact numbers:

• 0161 446 8004
• 0161 446 3681

Operating hours:

08:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays)