Private mental health clinic offering '˜pioneering' treatment opens in Havant

Smart TMS has bought its Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy to the area at its new premises on Solent Road.

TMS is a clinically proven, non-invasive treatment which uses magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain affected by mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, addiction, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Gerard Barnes, chief executive of Smart TMS, said: '˜We're in a time of change in the UK.

'˜In recent years mental illness was rarely discussed or even acknowledged but today more and more people are openly speaking about the illness that affects so many of us, and seeking treatment for it.

'˜TMS is a hugely successful treatment for mental health issues but it is still not widely available in the UK.

With so many people impacted by the illness each year, we hope that launching this new service will bring greater awareness and support for mental health sufferers in Havant and the surrounding areas.'

In 2015, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence approved the treatment as a safe alternative to antidepressants.

Smart TMS said experience has shown that about two in three Smart TMS patients experienced complete remission after six weeks.

Alex Jones, a 46-year-old architect from Portsmouth, conquered OCD through TMS after a debilitating 28-year battle.

He said: '˜OCD attacked every aspect of my life and I almost lost it all.

'˜In the beginning I hid the condition from friends and had to defer my university course for a year.

'˜Until the treatment, I had given up hope of living a normal life but now I feel positive about the future.

'˜Together with my family and friends and the team at Smart TMS, I was able to beat OCD and for this I am hugely grateful.'

Smart TMS Havant opened on Monday. It has clinics in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Dublin and Manchester. A course of treatment starts from £2750.

Call a patient advisor on 0345 222 5678 (lines open Monday'“Thursday 9am-7pm and on Fridays from 9am-5pm.

Familiarisation visits can be arranged once the patient is deemed suitable by a clinician. Visit smarttms.co.uk.