Published on: 11th October 2016
A specialist unit which will provide support closer to home for people suffering from severe mental health problems has been given the go ahead in Lincolnshire.
Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT), has recently approved plans to change existing unused ward space in Lincoln, into a brand new 10-bedded Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
A PICU is a specialist psychiatric inpatient ward for patients with complex mental health needs who require intensive support.
Patients are closely monitored by specialist staff during their stay on the unit, and are normally cared for over short periods of time until their condition improves and they can be transferred to an adult mental health ward to continue their treatment.
LPFT has been working closely with local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), to find ways it can offer specialist support to patients closer to where they live.
The PICU development will help remove the need for some patients to travel out of county in order to receive the intensive level of care required, which cannot currently be provided on LPFT’s existing mental health wards at the Peter Hodgkinson Centre in Lincoln and Pilgrim Hospital, Boston.
The Trust has also discussed plans to expand services in the local St George’s area with local residents and would like to thank them for their input and feedback on proposals.
Building work on the male only unit is expected to commence during the middle of October, with the plan for it to become operational and able to accept patients by next summer. There are also early discussions taking place for how a similar service could be developed for female patients.
LPFT Chief Executive Dr John Brewin, said that creating a PICU for the people of Lincolnshire was the right thing to do.
If you’re experiencing serious mental health problems, being away from your family network is far from ideal,
he said.
We want our patients to remain as close to home as possible during their recovery and the building of a PICU is one step closer to achieving this. Following our ongoing discussions with commissioners, the Trust has now approved the development. Planning permission has been granted and work to renovate our existing Carholme Court premises, off Long Leys Road in Lincoln, is expected to start in October. 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.
A PICU development was something highlighted by the Care Quality Commission last year, during their week-long inspection of LPFT services, as something that would be of benefit to patients.
It is expected to create around 40 jobs for the local community and recruitment will start for some of the specialist roles this October.
The unit will accommodate 10 individual en-suite bedrooms, including wheelchair friendly and otherwise fit for disabled use. It will also feature a gymnasium, multi-faith room and lounge area for patients, as well as a secure and safe outdoor space.
