Published on: 11th June 2017
The official opening for Lincolnshire’s first Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) has taken place this week (27 June 2017) in advance of the first patients being welcomed.
The brand new 10-bedded male only unit, which will be known as the Hartsholme Centre, has been built within the existing footprint of an unused ward on the St George’s site in Lincoln. It comes following discussions with local commissioners to offer additional provision in Lincolnshire for adults who require intensive psychiatric care, and means that patients will no longer need to travel outside of the county to receive this vital support.
The newly refurbished building was recently handed over to Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT), from Lincoln-based building firm R G Carter and Focus Consultants and the team has been working rigorously through processes, systems and training in anticipation of patients arriving in July.
Tracy Colpitt, Ward Manager for the new Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit said:
“We are really excited to be able to offer this new specialist support in Lincolnshire. I have a fantastic new team of around 40 staff to deliver what we know will be an invaluable service for patients.”
LPFT has been working closely with local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) for some time to find ways it can offer a greater level of mental health support to patients closer to where they live.
The PICU development will help remove the need for some patients to travel out of area in order to receive the intensive level of care they require, which is not available on LPFT’s existing mental health wards at the Peter Hodgkinson Centre in Lincoln and Pilgrim Hospital, Boston.
Clair Raybould, Chief Operating Officer, South West Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group said:
We are delighted to have worked with LPFT on the development of this new psychiatric intensive care unit, a first for Lincolnshire. The unit will provide comprehensive care to patients closer to their home, friends and family which is key to the recovery of patients.
LPFT Chief Executive, Dr John Brewin, said that the new PICU is good news for patients and their friends and family.
If you’re experiencing serious mental health problems, being away from your family network is far from ideal. We want our patients to remain as close to home as possible during their recovery and opening the Hartsholme Centre is one step closer to achieving this. It’s an exciting time for the Trust and further underlines our commitment to providing the highest possible quality of care for the people of Lincolnshire.
The Right Worshipful the Mayor and Mayoress of Lincoln will officially open the unit on Tuesday 27 June and will welcome this fantastic new service to the county.
The Hartsholme unit is dedicated to former LPFT Chief Executive, Chris Slavin, who sadly passed away in 2015 following a 13 year career in charge of local mental health services, and a plaque in his memory will be unveiled as part of the opening ceremony. The Trust, its staff and patients wanted to recognise Mr Slavin for his commitment to local mental health services and his drive to ensure that mental health conditions received the same level of recognition and support as physical health conditions.
Patients, carers and local residents are invited to have a look around the new unit on the 27 June at a community drop-in event, which will be held between 4pm and 7pm at the Hartsholme Centre. The event will be an opportunity to take a look around the facilities and ask questions before the first patients arrive.
The Hartsholme Centre will provide 10 individual en-suite bedrooms. It also features a gymnasium, multi-faith room and lounge area for patients, as well as a secure and safe outdoor space.
Focus Consultants Senior Project Manager, Andy White, who undertook several roles on the development including principal designer, quantity surveyor and contract administrator said:
As the first psychiatric intensive care unit in Lincolnshire, it is an important development for the Trust and for those patients who will be cared for at the unit. We have paid a great deal of attention to the detail in terms of design and spatial planning and consider that this will significantly contribute to enhanced safety and accelerated recovery for patients. We are delighted that the delivery of the project has been a success and ready to open in the coming weeks.
Ryan Barnes, R G Carter Project Manager for the Hartsholme Centre build is delighted to have worked on this unique project saying:
It’s been a pleasure to work with the NHS Lincolnshire team on such an innovative, forward-thinking facility which will clearly make a difference to patients, their families and the wider community. We are incredibly proud of what has been achieved.
Discussions will now continue with commissioners on how a similar service for females could be provided in the county.
