Southern Trust Mental health and learning disability services have received a £4.7 million boost with the opening of two new wings at the existing Bluestone Unit on the Craigavon Area Hospital site.
The new 10 bedded Dorsy Unit will be used for the assessment of adults with a learning disability whilst Rosebrook which also has 10 beds, will be home to the Trust’s psychiatric intensive care unit.
The extension brings the total number of inpatient beds at the Bluestone Unit to 94. The facility also includes a Mental Health Outpatients Department and a Resource Centre.
Speaking on a recent visit to the new wings, Health Minister Edwin Poots said: “The extension of the Bluestone Unit at Craigavon is a further example of my commitment to provide new, fit-for purpose facilities for people who have a mental illness or a learning disability when they need acute inpatient care. Locating inpatient care for people who have a mental illness or a learning disability on the one site is in keeping with the Bamford vision for the development of these services.”
Bryce McMurray, Assistant Director for Mental Health Services for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust explains: “Through Transforming Your Care we want to ensure that where possible we can support people with mental health issues or learning disabilities to lead as normal a life as possible within their own communities where the majority of people who need a service will receive care and support. We have a range of community services in place to make this possible.
“These new developments at Bluestone will complement our community services, ensuring that we can rapidly respond to those clients most in need of short periods of hospital care.”
Both Dorsy and Rosebrook provide a therapeutic patient-centred environment in an outstanding modern facility in which clients can begin their recovery. The Units are designed to offer privacy and dignity for patients who will each have single ensuite rooms and access to outdoor courtyard space.
The Trust would like to thank all those involved in the planning and development of these new facilities at Bluestone which has resulted in providing an inpatient facility of the highest quality.
