A big step forward for new adult mental health unit in Manchester costing £105 million
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Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) reached a significant milestone, after the Trust Board and Manchester Health & Care Commissioning approved the Full Business Case (FBC) for a project to deliver a new adult mental health unit for Manchester patients at North Manchester General Hospital. The FBC will now be formally submitted to NHS England/Improvement for a final investment decision to allow construction to commence.
This new development is part of an exciting vision for North Manchester General Hospital (NMGH) to improve health and wellbeing for local people over the next 10 to 15 years. GMMH is anticipating receiving £91.3m of government funding with the remaining £14.6million to be funded by the Trust. The new adult mental health unit is anticipated to cost £105.9 million and will replace current dormitory type with single ensuite bedrooms and replacing limited space with therapeutically designed indoor and outdoor areas. accommodation with limited outdoor space.
The development sees the replacement of the current Park House inpatient mental health unit at North Manchester General Hospital and will be completely rebuilt on the hospital site, but in an alternative location. This will allow the new facility to be fully constructed without disturbing current patients and the day-to-day operation of services. GMMH’s ambitious vision is to construct a new, fit for purpose, mental health inpatient unit to improve mental health care for patients in Manchester. The new purpose-built facility will see existing Park House services transfer, into a high quality, modern and spacious facility. It will enable specialist inpatient care to be provided more efficiently within a safe and pleasant environment for staff, patients, carers, and visitors.
The current plans include:
150 single en-suite bedrooms to be provided over nine single sex wards, including a purpose built Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), seven adult acute wards for female and male adults, and one older adults’ ward.
An assessment suite (specifically for people needing a place of safety and assessment under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act).
A variety of internal activity areas and multiple outside garden spaces specifically designed to enhance the environment and aid recovery.
GMMH has engaged with key stakeholders during the development of the Full Business Case and has support from the wider health and care system including commissioners. As the scheme moves into the next stage, GMMH will be continuing community conversations to hear feedback, test thinking and develop the design proposals further.
As part of the development, proposals will significantly improve patient privacy and dignity, providing service users with spacious single bedrooms with private ensuite bathrooms in single-sex wards.
Neil Thwaite, Chief Executive of Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“We passionately believe this investment will greatly improve the quality of specialist inpatient mental health care and will enable us to build a therapeutic, modern environment for patients and workplace for staff.
“It is excellent news for people needing in-patient mental health services in Manchester and forms part of exciting regeneration plans being developed for the North Manchester hospital site.”
Plans for the new mental health unit received full planning consent from the local planning authority, Manchester City Council, in January 2021
Work on the new building is expected to start in 2022 with the new facility anticipated to be built and operational by 2024.
