New mental health unit could replace ageing sites

New mental health services could be developed on an NHS site.

The proposals involve modernising adult inpatient services with a new facility at Willerby Hill.

Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust said existing mental health units, on nine sites across Hull, suffered from "ageing" buildings and were "increasingly unable to offer the modern, therapeutic environments people need".

A public consultation event about the plans is due to be held on 24 August, from 15:00 to 19:00 BST, at the trust's lecture theatre in Willerby.

Peter Beckwith, an executive director, said the trust wanted to "keep pace with the way mental health care has changed and future-proof our buildings".

The first phase of work would include a new 18-bed adult inpatient unit.

The trust stressed that the event would be about the redevelopment proposals and not about changes to mental health services.

Decisions on which services should move to the site would be considered at a later date.

Beckwith said: "Our longer-term ambition is to develop Willerby Hill into modern mental health inpatient facilities which would bring services closer together in purposeful modern facilities."

This would allow the trust to respond to demand for care "in a more timely manner" than at present.

Beckwith said several of the existing inpatient units in Hull were "developed many years ago".

"Whilst they remain fit for purpose, we are starting to see a rising demand in increasing complexity in the patients we serve.

"We've developed much stronger community rehabilitation services, which means people can now be supported safely in their homes.

"Those that do need to come into hospital have more complex needs and we want to design our facilities around that."

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