New mental health facility for Lancashire

Mental Health Nursing,  Mar 2006  

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Alastair Campbell opened a 'bestpractice' 16-bed state-of-the-art mental health hospital in Gisburn, Lancashire last month.

The Churchill Gisburn Clinic will provide care and treatment for men aged 18 to 65 suffering from a wide range of mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia, and patients with multiple psychiatric needs.

The 24-hour clinic, which has en-suite bedrooms and other facilities such as a gymnasium, will provide medium level security for patients with psychiatric problems who require short, medium or long-term rehabilitation.

Mr Campbell, former director of communications and strategy at 10 Downing Street, said: 'I am delighted to be opening Churchill's latest mental health clinic, which offers the highest standards of care for in-patients with mental health problems. People here will get the treatment they deserve, sadly in some cases for a long time.

There is still a stigma attached to mental health and one of the problems is the way psychiatric illness is portrayed. This mental health unit is a fantastic thing and there are relatively few across the country refurbished to this standard. I have phenomenal admiration for the staff here.'

Care programmes developed within the unit are tailored to meet the specific needs of a patient in combination with the patient's existing support team. They usually include one-to-one and group therapy. Group therapy features art, fitness, social skills and anxiety management, with facilities including a gymnasium, activity area for games, and secure all weather surface recreation facility.

Sayed Bel-Barco, group director of operations for Covenant Healthcare Group, said: 'Mental health services in England are experiencing a period of unprecedented change. Many more people are affected by mental health issues than most people realise. It is believed that one in three people are affected in the UK.

'We are delighted that all our planning over the last three years is now realised with the opening of this superb, state-of-the-art facility in Lancashire. The hospital is able to ease some of the pressure felt by existing, already stretched resources in the area.

The patients are from Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cumbria and the surrounding area. Previously, patients had to be treated a long way from where they came from, making travel for relatives and friends - who are so important to their recovery - much more difficult.'

Forty multi-disciplinary staff provide care at the clinic, which is regulated by the Healthcare Commission.

Copyright Community Psychiatric Nurses Association Mar 2006
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