£8m mental health unit welcomes first patient

MORE BEDS AT SITE PARTLY DESIGNED

AN £8 million mental health unit for young people has welcomed its first inpatients.

The Beacon, at Glenfield Hospital, incorporates design ideas and features suggested by some of those who will use its services.

The unit has 15 beds, an increase on the service’s previous provision of 10, meaning fewer people will have to leave Leicestershire for specialist care.

For the first time in the area it will provide inpatient care for those who have eating disorders.

The centre is run by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, which said patients will be able to stay in individual bedrooms with en suite facilities, rather than dormitory accommodation.

It said an “incredibly generous” donation by Leicester City FC had paid for a sports pitch at the site.

The centre was co-designed by staff from the trust’s specialist child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) and young people, and was built at Glenfield to be close to other mental health facilities, the trust said.

Helen Thompson, director of families, young people and children’s services at the trust, said: “I’m delighted we have been able to welcome our first inpatients to The Beacon. From the outset, our vision has been to ensure the voice of the young person is at the heart of the care provided here, which is why involving them in the building’s look and feel was so important.

“The Beacon’s location right in the centre of the East Midlands, and the fact we are now able to offer 15 beds rather than 10, means more young people will be able to be treated closer to home.

“The building is surrounded by greenery and flooded with light.

“It’s a wonderful environment that will really support recovery.”

The planned official opening has been postponed because of lockdown.

Construction was managed by Interserve Construction.

The company’s divisional director, Simon Butler, said: “The Beacon has been a fantastic project for us to be a part of and we are very proud to have worked with the trust to deliver an environment that will enable provision of great mental health care for young people.”