How can patients access the clinic?
They can be referred by their treating specialist. Patients must have a confirmed diagnosis of FND made by their treating neurologist to be suitable for this clinic.
What does FND stand for?
Functional Neurological Disorders.
What is provided in the FND clinic?
When a patient is accepted into the clinic, they will be invited to attend a neuropsychiatric assessment and asked to complete a set of surveys.
At the initial appointment, 3 further appointments will be scheduled: a feedback session, a 3-month follow up and a 6-month follow-up.
Some assessments will involve members of our interdisciplinary team made up of clinical experts from physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychology.
Once the clinic is complete, care will be handed back to the referring specialist and patients will be provided with information about access to further treatment and care.
Where is the FND clinic located?
The Mindgardens FND clinic will operate out of the Neuropsychiatric Institute (NPI). The NPI is a clinical academic facility of The Prince of Wales Hospital, a UNSW Sydney teaching hospital, and is part of the Mental Health Program of the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD).
The FND Clinic appointments will be in the Euroa Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, and is close to Gate 6, Avoca Street.
Can I attend the clinic for a medico-legal report?
No, unfortunately this clinic cannot accept referrals for medico-legal reports.
What are the Referral Criteria for the clinic?
- Aged 18-65 years
- FND diagnosed by a specialist neurologist
- Confirmation that that the diagnosis has been explicitly discussed with the patient prior to referral to the FND clinic
- Commitment by referring specialist to stay involved in patient’s care after clinic interventions are completed
- All FND related investigations have been completed
- Patient consenting and aware of referral to clinic
How can I refer a patient?
- A detailed referral information sheet can be found here.
- Please email the completed FND Referral Form to: SESLHD-POWNeuropsychiatricInstitute@health.nsw.gov.au
- Phone: 02 9382 3763
- Fax: 02 9382 3774
- Please mark referrals ‘for the attention of Dr Adith Mohan, Mindgardens FND Clinic’.
- Referrals are screened by clinic staff for suitability. If considered appropriate, a patient information questionnaire will be sent to the referring clinician.
- Appointments cannot be booked and confirmed until all questionnaires and background information have been provided.
Who is not ready to be referred to the clinic?
- Investigations ongoing
- Patient is not accepting of diagnosis of FND
- Active medico-legal/ worker’s compensation matters
- Primary clinical issue other than FND
What does it cost to attend the Clinic?
Once a patient is accepted into the clinic, it is free to attend. We only require the patient’s Medicare details.
What if the appointment needs to be rescheduled?
Please contact the Neuropsychiatric Institute on 02 9382 3763 or email SESLHD-POWNeuropsychiatricInstitute@health.nsw.gov.au. Please note we have long waiting times for the clinic so rescheduling appointments can mean long delays. Please contact us to discuss any concerns about the scheduled appointment time as early as possible.
What personal information will be shared?
As part of your clinical treatment, we will need to access information from other treating doctors and allied health clinicians. We will request the referring specialist to provide us with copies of any clinical documentation that is relevant to a patient’s diagnosis and treatment. We may also need to contact some of these care providers for clarification of clinical details as needed. This is a routine part of the treatment that all our services provide.
What happens if a patient is not suitable for the clinic?
Any referred patients not accepted for the clinic will receive FND resources to support their care and will continue care with the referring medical specialist. FND resources can also be found here.
What care will patients receive at the end of the clinic?
The FND Clinic provides short-term intervention. Once the clinic is completed, patients’ care will be continued with their referring medical specialist. They will be provided with information about access to further treatment and care. FND resources can also be found here.
