WIREDGOV

The scheme will bring together all general adult mental health inpatient services from Whitchurch Hospital and the Llanfair Unit in Llandough Hospital and also specialist services for clients requiring low secure, addiction, neuropsychiatry, intensive care, supportive recovery services along with associated therapy and support services.

One of the main outcomes and benefits to be derived from the proposed investment is to improve quality, safety and effectiveness of acute inpatient care for adults with mental health problems in modern facilities, designed to ensure:

• Improved access to specialist mental health support;
• Gender specific accommodation;
• Meets expectations for privacy, safety, dignity, accessibility, cultural background;
• Improved access to physical healthcare, including diagnostics;

The close proximity of the new unit to the main hospital will improve access to physical healthcare services such as diagnostics and also provide links with related specialities including mental health services for older people, neuro-rehabilitation and neuropsychiatry. The location on the site will assimilate the new unit into the main hospital and provide a plaza area with potential for a newsagent and general shops, post office facilities and a café, helping to aid social integration and reduce stigma.

The safety, dignity and privacy of service users were instrumental in the design brief.  It will have single bedrooms with en suite facilities and flexible ward design to respond to the needs of service users, including access to single sex sitting rooms and bedroom areas, garden areas and therapeutic space.

Health Minister Mark Drakeford said:

“This new unit will give patients who access mental health services a sense of dignity and safety and I am pleased the Welsh Government funding has made it possible.”