New £4.5m mental health wards open their doors
TWO new mental health wards have opened in Macclesfield following an investment of £4.5m.
Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP), who provide mental health services in the area, have announced the Silk Ward and the Mulberry Ward are now taking patients.
The 26-bed Mulberry Ward, at Lime Walk House, Victoria Road, opened on Wednesday, January 29, and provides inpatient care for adults severely affected by mental health problems including schizophrenia, psychosis and depression.
While the 15-bed Silk Ward, at Macclesfield Hospital, opened a week earlier and offers treatment and assessment for people who have dementia.
It follows the controversial closure of the Millbrook Unit.
Initially it was proposed that mental health services would move out of the area but after a large outcry during consultation it was decided to keep them largely in Macclesfield.
Michael Heale, chair of the Macclesfield Mental Health Forum, says: “The forum has been campaigning for improved facilities for the last three years in East Cheshire and is delighted to see the opening of Silk and Mulberry Wards.
“The new wards offer improved amenities including en-suite bathrooms alongside an excellent environment for care and rehabilitation.
“I congratulate CWP for this investment and hope it will launch a new era for people experiencing mental health problems in the local area.”
The Mulberry Ward features an open garden, courtyard, gym facilities, and all en-suite bedrooms.
And the Silk Ward has an end of life room for families to be near loved ones, memory wall, sensory garden and therapy activities such as creative writing. It is part of a wider programme of changes to mental health services is East Cheshire, South Cheshire and Vale Royal.
These also include 24-hour crisis support service, community beds, therapy and home treatment.
But when the changes were approved, in January 2019, it was said mental health patients with the most complex needs will have to travel to Bowmere, Chester.