Dr Serena Lai – Private Psychiatrist in London

Dr Serena Lai is a General Adult Consultant Psychiatrist.

Dr Serena Lai works as a Consultant for the National Health Service at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and privately in her own practice in central London.

Dr Lai has extensive knowledge and experience in psychopharmacology as well as in working with a range of psychiatric disorders, including mood disorders (Depression and Bipolar Disorder), Anxiety Disorders, Adjustment Disorders and Psychosis (particularly First Episode Psychosis). She also has considerable experience in managing acute presentations, complex cases (including forensic cases) and psychiatric emergencies.

Her ethos is putting her patients first in her day to day practice and always being there for them, including via phone call, text, WhatsApp and email. She works towards creating a strong relationship and alliance with her patients and their families. She enables them to make informed choices, in terms of treatment options available, mechanisms of action of medications and side effects.

Services Offered

Assessment and treatment of psychiatric conditions such as:
– Anxiety and Panic attacks
– Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
– Depression
– Bipolar Disorder
– Psychoses
Psychoeducation: around mental illness, relapse indicators and ways of managing symptoms;

Sessions: with patients, families and/or carers to discuss illness, its impact and coping strategies;
Expert opinion: on psychopharmacological treatments;
Availability on: the phone, via text and email;
Liaison with GPs: through letters and phone calls.
Consultations: can be conducted in English or in Italian.

Useful Links

Mind
Samaritans
CALM
Rethink Mental Illness
Mental Health Foundation
Childline

Background

Dr Lai qualified in Italy as a medical doctor achieving the highest grade, 110 summa cum laude, in 2007. In 2012, she completed her training in Psychiatry in Italy, again gaining the highest grade of 50 summa cum laude.

During her training, Dr Lai also worked as a locum General Practitioner and as a physician at local Accident & Emergency Services. This allowed her to develop herself as a doctor and get clinical experience in treating medical emergencies as well as common physical health conditions. In November 2011, while still in training, Dr Lai started practising Psychiatry privately in Italy, which she continued until October 2017 after three years of living in the UK.

After completing her training, Dr Lai worked as a Consultant Psychiatrist in Italy for about two years, which allowed her to get considerable experience in the community, hospital and forensic settings, including maximum secure prisons. During those years, she also worked as an expert witness for the Court as well as for private clients.

Dr Lai moved to the United Kingdom in 2014. She initially worked as a psychiatrist in a forensic low secure unit in Cambridge and in a Community Mental Health Team in Saffron Walden. She later worked as a Consultant Psychiatrist in the Early Intervention in Psychosis Service and in an Acute Assessment ward in Peterborough.

Dr Lai moved to London in December 2017. She has been working as a Consultant Psychiatrist with COAST Early Intervention in Psychosis Service, at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust from December 2017 to date. In her current role, she follows up with patients experiencing their first episode of psychosis in the context of Mood Disorders, including Depressive Episodes and Bipolar Disorders, Pre or Postnatal period and several Psychotic Disorders, such as Brief and Transient Psychotic Disorder, Unspecified Non Organic Psychosis, Schizoaffective Disorder, and Schizophrenia.

Dr Lai gained the Approved Clinician Approval under the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended) on 26/05/2016. She became Section 12 (2) Approved under the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended) on 06/10/2015.

Dr Lai has been a Specialist Associate of the Royal College of Psychiatrists since 08/08/2015, membership number 926050. She has been registered in the Registry of Medical Practitioner and Specialist of the General Medical Council with full registration since January 2014, membership number 7467522. Dr Lai has been registered in the Registry of Medical Practitioners of Cagliari, Italy, since 19/02/2008, membership number 8913.

Fees

First appointment:
Includes an hour assessment.

Follow up appointment:

Standard, 30 minutes medical review;
Extended, 60 minutes medical review.

Phone calls, emails and text messages are free of charge.

Payments

Please make the payment prior to your scheduled appointment. An invoice will be sent to you after booking.

Please be aware that there is a two working days notice policy for all cancellations and changes of private appointments. Costs are incurred when changes are made at short notice. So for appointments that are cancelled or postponed with less than 48 hours notice, the full fee is charged.

Book an appointment

Private Appointments are usually arranged on Fridays and Saturdays. However, afternoon and evening appointments during other week days can be facilitated whenever required.