By Gillian Ellison

Published at 11:08, Thursday, 28 June 2012

A £3.5 MILLION mental health unit at West Cumberland Hospital opened this week.

Refurbished: The new mental health unit

Patients moved into the newly-refurbished Yewdale Ward which has been transformed as part of the West Cumberland Hospital redevelopment.

Once the mental health services have completely moved out of the former ward, stripping out and demolition work will take place.

Health bosses from the North Cumbria University Hospitals Trust says this will enable the new redevelopment to progress on plan as per the contractors’ schedule.

The construction works have been led by Laing O’Rourke, the main contractor for the new West Cumberland Hospital, and has involved local sub-contractors/workforce.

The mental health service is run by Cumbria Partnership Foundation Trust.

Angus Forsyth, nurse consultant for Yewdale Ward, said “This is a great development for mental health services in West Cumbria. The new ward will enable us to provide more therapies and activities, all in an environment which has been designed to promote recovery. Staff and patients alike are excited about the move and the opportunities that it will provide.”

Patients on the ward – which provides acute mental health inpatient care – will benefit from individual bedrooms with en-suite facilities.

There is also a well-equipped occupational therapy room which will encourage patients to take part in different activities to aid recovery. The ward will have separate male and female areas, and includes a courtyard, conservatory and open plan lounge.

The Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team will also be based at the new ward which is now located on the right hand side, after A&E and the maternity unit.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk