University Partnership Launches Innovative Ketamine Clinic to Treat Severe Depression
University partnership launches innovative ketamine clinic to treat severe depression – with emphasis on safe, monitored care amid rising national concerns.
Responsible, science-led approach ensuring treatment is delivered only where clinically appropriate, and with robust safeguards in place.
The University of Birmingham, in collaboration with Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (BSMHFT) and the Midlands Translational Centre for the Mental Health Mission (funded by the NIHR), is proud to announce the launch of a pioneering Ketamine Clinic for the treatment of individuals living with Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD).
Officially opened on 7 January 2025 at the Oleaster Centre (BSMHFT), the clinic marks a significant advance in expanding access to safe, evidence-based treatment options for those whose symptoms have not responded to conventional therapies. This initiative is being delivered in partnership with the Trust’s Severe Mood Disorder Service, with strong academic and clinical leadership from Professor Steven Marwaha and Dr Dhruba Bagchi.
Treatment-Resistant Depression affects 30-50% of people with major depression and work we have done indicates it is associated with considerable personal and social impact. While ketamine has shown promise in alleviating depressive symptoms rapidly in many cases, its use must be approached with caution. With the rising incidence of ketamine misuse in the UK, the clinic operates under a strict clinical protocol, ensuring that this treatment is delivered safely, ethically, and with the highest standards of patient care, through a multi-disciplinary research team.
The pilot programme will treat 20 patients with intravenous ketamine. Each patient undergoes rigorous research focussed pre-treatment assessment, is closely monitored throughout the course of therapy, and receives structured post-treatment follow-up. This framework is designed to ensure both safety and effectiveness, while also providing data to guide the potential scaling of the service.
This new service represents a careful and responsible step forward in tackling one of the most difficult forms of depression. Many patients for whom IV Ketamine is suitable have suffered severe intractable depression affecting all aspects of their life but that has not responded to many different forms of medication and psychological therapy. By embedding this novel treatment within a research and clinical environment, we can offer hope to patients while maintaining the highest standards of medical oversight. Also, this is the first of a range of new interventions we are beginning to offer people with severe depression living in Birmingham and Solihull
The multidisciplinary team includes consultant psychiatrists, consultant anaesthetists, Clinical research fellows, specialist nurses, and clinical support staff, all dedicated to delivering compassionate, research-informed care.
Feedback from the clinic’s first patient has been highly encouraging. They reported substantial improvement in mood, communication, and overall wellbeing, and commended the professionalism and empathy of the team. Suggestions for further enhancement, such as reducing environmental noise, are being actively considered as part of the continuous improvement process.
As the clinic progresses, the team is committed to evaluating its outcomes rigorously and transparently. The service’s development is underpinned by a dual mission: to deliver tangible improvements in patient lives and to contribute to the national research landscape addressing severe depression.
Amid national concerns regarding non-medical ketamine use, the University of Birmingham and its partners are taking a responsible, science-led approach to ensure this treatment is delivered only where clinically appropriate, and with robust safeguards in place.
Find out more
For further information, please contact: Specialist Mood Disorder Service at bsmhft.specialistmooddisorderservice@nhs.net