Recommendations and patient stories for Ramanathan Elayaperumal (Dr Ram)

Following a total ankle replacement operation, I have suffered with panic attacks, anxiety, and sleepless nights. I believe that these conditions have been brought on by the anesthetic even though I have had several previous operations where I have had general anesthetic without any difficulties at all. Frequent visits to my GP resulted in the prescription of Lorazepam and later Zopiclone, both of which helped reduce my anxiety and helped me sleep at night. However, both drugs had strong warnings about addiction. I made a private appointment to see Dr Ram at the Oaks Hospital and following a detailed consultation he prescribed Trazadone 50mg, which he said was non-addictive, and advised that I should stop taking the other medication. Dr Ram was extremely professional, asked a series of probing questions, his manner was reassuring and highly competent and both my wife, (who had accompanied me at the consultation), and I came away feeling listened to, reassured and keen to follow Dr Ram’s advice. My wife and I saw Dr Ram again and following the consultation came away again, reassured, and confident that the advice from Dr Ram would help towards my recovery. I am feeling less anxious, I am working hard to get to sleep at night without the need for medication but have the Trazadone available if needed.

Dr Ram has supported me over the past 10 months whilst I have been suffering with Complex PTSD. From first diagnosis I have found Dr Ram to be really supportive in overseeing my progress and directing suitable treatment which has helped me recover. Dr Ram listens in a caring and empathetic manner and maintains a positive approach which helped me realise I could and would recover. Thank you so much Dr Ram for everything.

Dr Ram is a welcoming and pleasant man who put me at ease from the first appointment. After months of seeing various NHS psychiatrists all with differing opinions and ideas on medication and not getting any better with my mental health, my partner and I decided to seek private medical assistance. Dr Ram was thorough and patient and managed to get me back on the right track. I feel a lot better about life and feel back on an even keel mentally. Thank you, Dr Ram, for your help.

Dr Ram's knowledge of psychiatry and approach has transformed my life for the better. Now I can live a life according to my values, as I am finally able to access treatment that has worked for me. He took the time to really listen to my past emotional history and to diagnose me correctly. After that, he prescribed me appropriate medication for my condition. Perhaps most importantly, his approach during our consultations has been compassionate, calm and knowledgeable. I was able to voice concerns about medication or past experiences in a judgement free zone. I urge you to see Dr Ram if you sense that you need more direction regarding your mental health. Making the decision to see him was one of the best decisions of my life, as I can now manage my condition with clarity and confidence.

Following an emotional breakdown in December 2023 due to workplace trauma, Dr Ram was assigned to me through my private healthcare. Initially, he examined me and could see the challenges I was facing and the emotions I had suppressed. He prescribed antidepressants and some sleeping aids but was always looking at ways for me to get better and come off the medication, rather than becoming reliant on the medication to function. He showed good empathy and compassion throughout and was very understanding. His cheerfulness and kindness always made the appointments something to look forward to rather than a chore and he shared some good ideas about healthy lifestyle, nutrition and exercise, which all proved beneficial. I am pleased to say that as of May 2024, I have stopped taking antidepressants and am feeling good and optimistic about life, and Dr Ram's support and guidance has assisted in my recovery.

I saw Dr Ram for a period from 9 months to manage anxiety, when Dr Ram gave me the initial diagnosis he took great care to explain his thoughts around a diagnosis that initially I didn't quite recognise but quickly began to understand. I found Dr Ram to be very engaging, considerate and helpful in his diagnosis, explanation of the medication he was prescribing and why. As my treatment progressed Dr Ram showed great interest in the new habits that I was forming and the benefits that they would have. Dr Ram has helped me find tools to manage detrimental thought processes and look forward to a more positive future.

I booked an appointment to see Dr Ram after being seen by the NHS mental health crisis team, I was not happy with the little time I had with them and needed more answer's . From the off I was pleased with the whole experience, I was in touch with Dr Rams secretary whom organised everything and was very helpful. I visited Dr Ram initially at the Nuffield health hospital in Ipswich Dr Ram was welcoming and we discussed right from my early years in my initial assessment. I had been suffering with my mental health for many years and was at breaking point when I reached out for help. Talking to Dr Ram was comfortable he put me at ease and discussing my long history of mental health struggles was not as scary as it seems . It had taken me many many years to accept I had a diagnosis looming over me and my self destructive behaviour had nearly cost me my husband / my family and my life. At the end of our assessment Dr Ram was able to give me a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder and discuss a treatment plan.Dr Ram has extensive knowledge and explained a lot to me to help my understanding. Dr Ram discussed DBT therapy with me and the different medications available and the side effects that could come with these. I left Dr Ram with my prescription For medication I was going to start and Dr Ram wanted to see me in four weeks time to have a review. Dr Ram in the mean time wrote to my GP and kept him up to date on everything my treatment plan medication etc. I started to take my medication and slowly get my life back together, the medication seemed to be controlling some of my intense feelings and my spiralling mood swings. When going to my review four weeks later with Dr Ram I felt stable and more in control I started to feel like a new person a happy person. I told Dr Ram I wish I had taken this medication years ago and reached out for help a lot earlier but everything happens for a reason right! Dr Ram was genuinely pleased to see how well I was doing and was happy with my progress and my results I had from my ecg and blood tests which he had asked my GP to do. Dr Ram explained he was discharging me he would hand me over to my GP now I was settled on my medication he would write to him again to keep him informed of my care plan and to continue to prescribe my medication. I was to get in touch with his secretary if I needed to see him again. Dr Ram was kind and had extensive knowledge in mental health it was the best decision I have made to book and appointment with Dr Ram I am now settled on my medication and in a really happy place in my life.

I was diagnosed with depression several years ago and began taking medication about nine or eight years ago, but unfortunately, they didn't seem to have the desired effect. Two years ago, I started seeing Dr. Ram after experiencing episodes of rage and profound sadness. Initially, I anticipated merely adjusting my medication to regain stability and normalcy in my life. However, Dr. Ram provided far more than that. For the first time, I felt truly heard and understood. It was evident that he was genuinely invested in my journey toward healing. Throughout my treatment, he consistently demonstrated his unwavering support and presence.

I would just like to say how impressed I and my wife have been with Dr Ram during my recent treatment. His diagnosis and treatment plan together with our shared sense of humour has helped me enormously and I would be happy to recommend him to anyone in the future.

Dr Ram has been fantastic over the past few years, helping myself gain and understand my diagnosis and care plans to build my self confidence and help with deal with stress and anxiety, he has gone over and above to work with different medications and doses to suit my needs and communicated with my GP to help lower my blood pressure, I would highly recommend Dr Ram to anyone seeking a diagnosis or for support in their mental health.

I can’t thank Dr.Ram enough. Excellent service, excellent results. Nice guy - thoroughly recommend. My only regret… I didn’t book Dr. Ram five years ago. I felt genuinely listened to and understood, and I’m now feeling the best I’ve felt in over five years. Huge thanks again.

Thank you so much for the time attention you have given to our daughter. You were so kind and gentle during the assessment which enabled her to open up to you. As parents, we entered into this slightly apprehensive. However, the whole process from start to finish has been brilliant. Dr Ram diagnosed our daughter with ADHD and prescribed medication. Dr Ram has responded promptly and accurately to achieving the correct dose. In less than 2 months we can’t believe the difference in our daughter. Before meeting Dr Ram she was frustrated, withdrawn and unable to cope with school demands. Now, she is socialising and her grades have improved significantly and most importantly she is happy! We can’t thank you enough Dr Ram.

Throughout the process of my ADHD diagnosis including the initial consultation and assessment I was guided clearly and any questions or concerns I had were answered throughout the process. Which was simple and consistent from Carly via email. I was also very grateful of the speed of the process which despite happening over the Christmas and new year period took only about 2 months in total. Since being diagnosed through the help of medication and check up appointments every 3 weeks via zoom call the adjustment was of ease. I’ve noticed significant improvement in areas of my life which before were a struggle including university attendance, feedback from assessments and an overall increase in my grade average as a result. Dr Ram’s monitoring of side effects, weight and blood pressure throughout our regular check ups I have handled the adjustment very well and would recommend anyone in a similar position to contact Dr Ram for help.

I can’t tell you how happy and thrilled I am now that he has helped me get back to my normal self again, I haven’t felt this happy in a long time since I have been on my medication it has helped me get back into the things I love and have a passion about e.g Music. He has also helped me with my confidence again, I performed on the piano at The Shard, Top View which I thought I could never go to all by myself before, I would have never done that last year!! I also have gone out more to play classical music in other places like restuarants and care homes, now I can work limited hours (15) and have set up my own music business, which hopefully one day I will be able to travel world-wide with my classical music.

He has listened to how I feel and taken into account my thoughts and feelings throughout the process. He has acted very professionally at all times and has given me an opportunity to overcome one of the most challenging periods of my life.

Dr Ram provided me with more help for my anxiety than I thought I was going to achieve. In just 3 sessions, he was able to help me overcome the majority of my general anxiety and my social anxiety, more than anyone ever has before. He was extremely welcoming, kind and I found that after the first session, I was more comfortable speaking to him about my mental health compared to anyone else I had ever spoken to. He also spoke to me in a way that helped me understand more about my anxiety and strategies to get better in a healthy manner. Overall, he helped me way more than what I expected and has helped me become more confident in myself and the things that I do. He even gave me the confidence to do things, such as presentations, that I thought I would never be able to do without panicking again, which was a large achievement.

Dr. Ram's expertise and manner have helped me, tremendously. Despite the complexity in the topics we have had to discuss, Dr Ram consistently makes it easy for me to understand and describes his recommendations in the context of personal detail I have shared.

Dr Ram helped me with some issues I was having. He was able to help me to identify my problems, and stopped me from felling alienated. He fully explained everything that I needed to know and prescribed medication to help me. It has been a year since my first appointment and I am in a completely different place in my head now, and it’s thanks to Dr Ram! Huge thanks are deserved!!

I just wanted to leave a note that I felt very well taken care of by Dr Ram Elayaperumal. I recommend him highly to prospective patients. If you need a rating, I give him ten out of ten stars.

Dr Ram has changed our lives for the better. A very kind, gentle, non-judgemental and understanding man clearly passionate about his job. My partner had been suffering for some time with his mental health and quite severe at its peak, we struggled to get the right help needed via GP/NHS. Dr Ram was patient in his assessment and gave a clear diagnosis, changed medication to something more suitable, alongside regular visits made a dramatic change to my partners life and has now been discharged from his clinic albeit only ever a phone call away

My experience since the beginning of the process has been very positive from the offset. Dr Ram is very understanding, friendly and polite, and sympathetic to my struggles, which made the assessment and treatment period a lot more stress free than I anticipated before starting the work with him. This has been a life changing experience for the better, and I know it's his job but all the same it has benefited me in so many ways getting medicine to help with the symptoms of ADHD, it was absolutely debilitating every day of my life before that, and regularly left me mentally exhausted at the end of most days just trying to keep up with life in many aspects. Genuinely I am very grateful to Dr Ram as this has changed my life for the better so much, and although I have some current family and other life problems and worries I am going through, this experience and treatment has helped me deal with them better, it has kept me focused and with the momentum to keeping pushing on with the end goal of having a good life. I would highly recommend Dr Ram to anyone anyone suffering with ADHD and needing that diagnosis and help to enjoy life more.

I've had a great experience with Dr Ram, it is refreshing to be seen by a specialist who understands all my symptoms and explains everything so clearly. He has enabled me to be on a treatment plan that has changed my life for the better. I would recommend Dr Ram to anyone with a psychiatry need.

I am emailing regarding my appointment with Dr Ram and something which the children in my class said to me since I returned to work. They said ‘Can you say thank you to the doctor for helping to make our teacher better.

From my first appointment with Dr Ram, I have had nothing but positive experiences. Dr Ram is kind, a great listener and made me feel completely at ease. After struggling for years, I finally have my life back and it is all thanks to his support’.

Dear Carly, if you have a minute, please would you let Dr Ram know that my son has just won a bursary for doing well in his exam retakes (after he had started his ADHD medication). He is not late for lectures now and is loving learning. Dr Ram's help is changing his life for the better. He is so much happier socially and academically, and his confidence is beginning to return. We are both so grateful for his support.

Firstly, I wish to thank you for the care, help and support that you've given me since we first met. After so many years of being shifted from pillar to post, without any clear plan or diagnosis, you have provided me with clarity on my mental health and have given me a treatment path to follow. Thanks to your advice I have undertaken the DBT and continued with my medication and I feel much better. I am also most grateful for the fact that you do explain things to me in terms that I can understand. I'd like to add that both my parents are also grateful to you for the help that you give me, as they too had to endure years of uncertainty surrounding my mental wellbeing. They appreciate how much I've improved in the last few months. I look forward to seeing you at my follow up appointment.

As well as providing an excellent clinical service, Dr Ram has shown great empathy throughout the treatment process. In combination, these provided my son with reassurance that he sorely needed at a time of crisis. And Carly, thank you for the very efficient service that you have provided!

Dr. Ram was lovely, and he had a very sympathetic and extremely kind manner. I found him very easy to talk to and open up to, about the problems I was having. I would certainly recommend him to anyone who, like me, was seeking more help than a regular GP could provide. I cannot speak highly enough of him, and I was impressed by the standard of care and support I received from him. Thank you Dr. Ram.

Dr. Ram was the first professional in 20 years who has sat with me, listened fully and asked the right questions which enabled him to correctly diagnose me after my first consultation. I had been to my GP many times over 20 years, never being diagnosed properly and never felt I was being listened to. Therefore I lost my trust in their services. Due to Dr. Ram's professionalism in our first consultation I felt I could trust his judgement and so participated fully in my treatment plan and the medication he prescribed. Over the next 6 months we had regular catch ups and increased my dosage. The quality of my life has improved well beyond any expectations I had, I can not put into words how grateful I am. Having suffered with depression for so long and at such a young age, it has affected every area of my life. I realise now how ill I had become. I was nervous to end my monthly appointments, not because I still needed treatment but the fear of relapse. Dr. Ram was very kind and once again reassured me and gained my trust, that if I ever felt I needed his assistance again in the future to go back and see him, which I would without hesitation.

When I saw Dr Ram for my first appointment in October 2022, I was in a bad state. I was not able to concentrate, memory problems, tense, agitated, sleep problems, loss of appetite, felt sick, not able to relax, the list goes on which I gave him a copy of. It had got so bad it was affecting my way of life. I was very pleased that I saw him urgently as it was becoming serious and I was not sure what it was. I was aware something was wrong, hence booking to see him. Dr Ram diagnosed me with GAD and all the symptoms made sense. It was a relief to have a diagnoses and to know what I was dealing with. He advised me to try some medication which I have done and has made a real difference. He also told me that talking therapy would help which I am going to follow up. I then saw Dr Ram in November 2022 and felt much better and he noticed the difference too. I will be seeing him again in three months time so he can see how I am progressing. I understand that it is a long-term illness that is not cured but treatable. I am very grateful for Dr Ram`s helpful consultations and efficient method of addressing the illness as I have not seen a psychiatrist before

I have been a patient of Dr. Ram since April 16th of 2022 and since then my mental health has continuously improved. He has been dedicated to helping me figure out the correct diagnoses so I can get the proper treatment and has played a very large role in my ongoing improvement. Being on the correct medications after being on the wrong medications for so long has been life changing and he is the only psychiatrist where the appointments don’t feel transactional. He listens to me and it has made finding the right dosages and medications a much easier process. Definitely the best psychiatrist I have ever had

I am emailing to provide feedback on Dr Ram. He was friendly and easy to open up to. The assessment was not intimidating and the treatment recommend to me was spot on and my mental health hasn’t been this good in a long time. Thanks very much, J W BSc Paramedic

Dear Dr Ram, I apologise for not emailing sooner but we have moved house, had a holiday plus caught covid!! So a busy time. I wanted to thank you Dr Ram for the help you have given me. I spoke to my GP in April as I was feeling incredibly anxious, the GP prescribed me Sertraline which made me feel much worse, I lost a lot of weight and felt unable to cope. My GP organised for me to have a consultation with you and you immediately said you could make me better, which gave me confidence. My aim was to go on holiday with my family to celebrate my son’s 40th Birthday which at that point I didn’t think I could do. You prescribed Pregabalin 25mg twice daily and Escitalopram 5mg once daily. Once I got used to the medication it made a big difference to how I was feeling, hugely reduced anxiety, better sleep and generally able to cope. More importantly I did go on holiday with my family and had a wonderful time. I feel very fortunate that I have been able to benefit from your knowledge, experience, and advice over the last six months. Kind regards L P

When I first came to see Dr Ram, I had suffered from insomnia for 6 months and was in severe distress and despair. I had just looked up information on methods of suicide in the UK and wondered if I would be able to carry out such an act. A trigger event at Christmas time had caused me to worry constantly and excessively. The insomnia gradually got worse over the 6 months. Apart from many GP appointments, I had tried various methods to overcome the sleeplessness: acupuncture, meditation, valerian root, and many other more or less “natural” methods. Nothing worked for me. I eventually decided I needed to see a psychiatrist. In his office, Dr Ram quickly diagnosed me with GAD – Generalised Anxiety Disorder. We were able to start a course of medication which would target the anxiety. When the anxiety came down, I would be able to sleep, said Dr Ram. That is exactly what happened; after a couple of weeks my natural sleep started coming back, to my huge relief. I was treated at all times with consideration and concern by Dr Ram. I cannot thank him enough and would not hesitate to recommend his services.

After years of battling with a recurrent psychological condition I was recommended Dr Ram. Dr Ram very quickly and accurately diagnosed my issues and helped me to understand my condition and prescribe the correct medication which has ultimately changed my life. He is a highly professional and experienced consultant with a pragmatic yet kind approach. He instantly put me at ease and offered a positive solution at time when I felt lost, low and hopeless.

I first met with Dr Ram in June 2021. I remember walking into his room that day, feeling like I was some kind of alien! Like it was just me that felt the way I did and most importantly I couldn't understand why! From that first moment, Dr Ram listened to me and put me at ease with his open and approachable manner. I fully committed to the session and to opening up because I felt like I could be completely honest without any judgement. When Dr Ram explained my condition (GAD) I felt like a weight had been lifted and that finally everything made sense. We continued with our sessions, first fortnightly, then monthly, then 3 monthly, having reached the year now, I will next speak to him in 6 months. To know he is only an email away, gives me the reassurance that if I need him he's there, but that I can also get on and continue my now incredibly positive and fulfilling life. My journey was not linear, I had bumps along the way, but I felt comfortable to recognise, acknowledge them and move on. Without Dr Rams professional and understanding care I would not be in the place I am today.

"Transformational" is the best way to describe the experience with Dr Ram. More than ten years of severe social anxiety, with feelings of anger and frustration have been dramatically reduced over a period of five months leading to huge, positive life changes. There is plenty of improvement still to be made, but Dr Ram's support has been pivotal in this turnaround and has opened a new world of friendships and opportunities!

For the first time in nearly 20 years of suffering symptoms, I finally felt truly listened to and understood in both my assessment and follow-up appointments. With his gentle, empathetic, and non-judgmental approach, Dr Ram clearly and carefully diagnosed and explained my conditions and focused on the best way forward in terms of medication and types of therapy. Thanks to his expert knowledge and experience, my mental health has improved significantly in just a few months and I am feeling very optimistic about managing my long-term conditions and about the future in general. I would highly recommend him to anyone seeking help with their mental health.

When I first came to see Dr Ram a few months ago I was totally at my wits end with anxiety and stress and honestly didn’t know where to turn. You listened to me intently from the first to the last meeting and from the very start I knew that things were going to better and there was light at the end of the tunnel! A few months on and I have just been discharged from your care and my life has literally been transformed for the better! Thank you again Dr Ram for your excellent work and for listening to me.

Throughout my time as a patient of Dr Ram, I found him to be of great help in improving my mental health with a combination of his excellent people skills and expert knowledge.
Firstly, through listening to me in a non-judgemental and empathetic manner, he made me feel at ease when explaining the issues I had. Dr Ram then enabled me to make clear sense of my situation, before outlining a proposed treatment plan for me to follow. Upon putting my trust into his plan, my mental health has improved significantly as I have took both his advice and prescribed medication. I would highly recommend Dr Ram to anyone needing the services he provides.

Dr Ram has helped enormously with our son's situation. He listened carefully during consultation, gently questioning and assessing the symptoms so that he was able to give a clear diagnosis of the problem. From this, he gave very sound treatment and helpful advice. As a result, the condition has improved significantly and we are optimistic of a complete recovery and return to normal.

I have struggled with depressive episodes for over 20. This has ranged from mild to severe, with psychotic episodes at its worst, and accompanying crippling anxiety. I had become increasingly disillusioned with the psychiatric treatments received over the years, and had been put onto more medications and combinations of medications then I can remember. Before being treated by Dr Ram, I felt that there was noting left to try and that my condition was untreatable. Dr Ram held length discussions with me to understand my past history, and the triggers that lead to depressive episodes, as well as the horrible side effects I had experience on other medications. He suggested a new course of treatment which I reluctantly agreed to try, and I am so relived that I did. I feel more stable, more in control and more “normal” then I have for longer than I can remember. Thank you Dr Ram!

After many years of varied and inconclusive diagnoses by the NHS, I approached Dr Ram privately. Several sessions and a trial of a couple of different medications to evaluate side effects later, we have settled on a long term and very successful prescription which has enormously and positively changed my life and outlook. Now the medication and dose is stable, it is provided on an ongoing basis by my GP under the NHS.

Dr Ram listens carefully & thoughtfully as you talk through your illness with him. He offers practical advice & has a quiet, sympathetic manner. He has a wide insight into any medications that may be necessary. He explains how they work & talks through any possible side effects. He offers face to face & telephone consultations. He liaises with the GP via detailed written reports & assessments; outlining any medication.

I received great service from Dr Ram and his secretary Emerald.I would highly recommend them.I got great advice and help for my anxiety issues. Thanks very much

Our daughter struggled for a very long time with anxiety & bouts of depression. Not really knowing what was wrong with her . After a resent consultation with Dr Ram she has finally got a diagnosis and has been placed on the correct medication.This diagnosis alone has really improved her mental well-being.Dr Ram was a very easy to talk too and listened to her problems ,he was very experienced & knowledgeable in these matters .

I found my recent treatment with Dr Ram very helpful. Dr Ram is professional, easy to talk to and sympathetic. He listens to what you have to say. He is clear when giving answers to questions you have, and also clearly explains what he thinks your problems are and the treatment options available.

I consulted Dr Ram after suffering with intense anxiety for many years. He diagnosed me with generalised anxiety disorder and prescribed a medication appropriate to my issue. He also talked me through exposure response therapy (ERP) In a clear way so that I was able to perform/ practise this independently. I would highly recommend his consultation.

Thank you for your time patience and knowledge. I now sleep regular hours, my daily anxiety no longer exists and my general well-being has increased dramatically. I have sent this card to show my gratitude to you and Claire. A big thank you.

As to my thoughts on his care, I really appreciate his way of working with the patient to be able to jointly come to a decision as to the best way forward, considering all aspects and am also impressed with his knowledge of drugs and how they react with other drugs.

I have appreciated the time Dr Ram has spent listening to me in an empathetic and non-judgemental way, thus making me feel at ease discussing some painful topics. He offers an integrated approach, it’s not just about the medication. Any medication recommended has the pros and cons explained and the way forward is a joint decision.

Dr Ram has a sympathetic, accessible manner and takes time to put his patients at ease and to fully explore their condition before prescribing or offering treatment advice. I was impressed by the standard of care I received.

Dr Ram has a sensitive and careful listening ear and helps to develop a treatment approach working closely with the patient. His input was greatly appreciated. I would recommend him to anyone seeking more help than a regular non-specialised GP can provide. He gave a new perspective on a condition which a GP could not provide.

I can't speak highly enough of Dr Ram, he takes a collaborative approach to treatment, is very knowledgeable, and friendly. When I first started seeing him my treatment resistant OCD had caused me difficulties for over 20 years. But thanks to his patience and perseverance, trying different drugs and therapies, I have now found something that is working to improve my quality of life.