Construction work is now underway at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester on a new £8 million purpose-built specialist mental health inpatient unit for young people.

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s chair, Cathy Ellis, was joined yesterday by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) colleagues, former service users and representatives from Interserve Construction Ltd for a symbolic ‘cutting of the first sod’. Despite the impending rain, everyone was all smiles as they ‘dug deep’ to mark the official start of the build, which is set to open in August 2020.

The design of the new 15-bed facility is based on a clinical model developed through engagement with staff, service users and families.

This is an increase on the current, temporary, 10-bed provision at Coalville Community Hospital, and includes provision for children and young people with eating disorders. Young people have previously had to go out of area for this specialist care.

Cathy said: “This construction project is a significant part of our transformation plan for young people’s mental health services at LPT. The new unit will provide a safe, welcoming and positive environment where we can deliver high quality care for local young people with acute mental health needs, and will mean we can treat more young people closer to home.”

Andrew Jowett, National Operations Director for Interserve Construction Ltd said: “Interserve is thrilled to be involved with this exciting new project with Leicestershire Partnership Trust. This bespoke green field facility marks a new milestone in care and support for users in Leicestershire and beyond.”

Locating the new unit on the Glenfield site also means it will be closer to other local mental health services and infrastructure, provided by LPT, including the Bennion Centre (adult eating disorders) and the Bradgate Mental Health Unit. This brings a number of benefits, including the facilitation of staff training and clinical supervision, as well as support in an emergency.

The building design ensures compliance with the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, the NHS England service specification for CAMHS and eating disorders and NICE guidance. It also meets the requirements of the Royal College of Psychiatry Quality Network for Inpatient CAMHS (QNIC) standards to co-locate CAMHS inpatient services with other acute mental health provision.

A further celebration event is planned for late September to mark another key landmark in the construction process, as the final bolts are tightened and the building’s frame is completed. Regular updates about the build over the coming months will be available at: www.leicspart.nhs.uk/CAMHSinpatient

 

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NOTES TO EDITORS

  • Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) provides community health, mental health and
    learning disabilities services for the one million people living in Leicester, Leicestershire and
    Rutland. We have a budget in excess of £275 million and employ approximately 5,500 staff.
    For more information visit: www.leicspart.nhs.uk. Our registered charity is called Raising
    Health (charity number 1057361). The charity fundraises to support excellent care initiatives,
    equipment and innovations which go above and beyond core NHS provision to enhance the
    experience of our patients, service users and staff. See www.raisinghealth.org.uk
  • Interserve Construction delivers bespoke, turn-key solution for clients’ construction needs
    covering every aspect of a project, from financing, design, development and construction to
    after-care and facilities management. Interserve Construction focuses on collaborative
    working with its clients and key partners in a wide range of sectors, where an innovative and
    creative approach over the long-term delivers sustainable, value-engineered and efficient
    results. Interserve Construction thrives on its reputation for leading the way in the sector. Its
    commitment to safe, healthy and sustainable continuous improvement is led by a skilled
    management team, flexible in its approach and open in its culture.
  • For further information contact: Rosie Huckle, Communications Manager for Families,
    Young People and Children’s Services, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Tel: 0116 295
    0924, Email: rosie.huckle@leicspart.nhs.uk