Professor Green officially opens mental health unit
Stephen Manderson (also known as Professor Green) officially opened Hopewood, Nottinghamshire Healthcare’s, state of the art, £21m mental health services hub for children, young people and families, at a special celebration event today, Friday 23 November.
The 40 bed site on Mansfield Road in Nottingham, which opened to patients in June, offers specialist inpatient care and support for adolescents and perinatal women experiencing acute mental health difficulties that can no longer be managed in the community. It is also the base for the Trust’s community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and perinatal services.
Stephen took the time to meet with current and former patients and staff at Hopewood, and said that the unit was amazing. Speaking before he declared the unit officially open, he talked about how important it is to see people’s recovery and hear the stories of how they have been helped. He highlighted how we should all be open about mental health and that there shouldn’t be a division between mental and physical health; it should just be health.
Guests at the event also heard from former patients of the CAMHS and perinatal services talking about how the services proved life changing for them. A talented young person currently being supported by the Community CAMHS team also treated the crowd to a performance of a rap he had written himself.
The event also saw the launch of the Hopewood Appeal, a partnership between the Trust and Nottingham Hospitals Charity. The appeal aims to raise funds to further enhance patient environments and to provide additional services which provide stimulation and aid recovery. For example, creating outdoor spaces that allow for reflection and recovery and bespoke equipment for educational activities and exercise to allow patients to connect with nature and benefit from the outdoor environment. Whilst indoors, enhancements to waiting areas and on wards will create more homely environments that feel therapeutic instead of clinical. Money raised will help to nurture the relationship between new mothers and their babies in the perinatal unit, with a sensory room with visual stimulation and a music system that helps them to settle and relax their baby.
To support the Hopewood Appeal, or take part in a fundraising event or challenge, please visit www.nottinghamhospitalscharity.org.uk, call 0115 962 7905, or email Ellis Keay, Fundraising Officer, ellis.keay@nuh.nhs.uk
Hopewood includes The Lookout Adolescent Unit, a 32 bed inpatient facility, which provides 20 more CAMHS beds than previously available. This includes a 12 bed specialist eating disorders ward and an 8 bed Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), the first of their kind for young people in the East Midlands. Also on site is The Lookout Education Centre, provided by Nottingham City Council, which supports young people to continue their education whilst admitted to the unit. The Pebble Bridge Community CAMHS Centre is also based at Hopewood.
Perinatal services are based in Green Haven at Hopewood, including inpatient and community perinatal services. The Margaret Oates Mother and Baby Unit, which has increased from 6 to 8 beds, provides vital support for mums who have serious mental health problems shortly before or after having a baby.
The impressive facilities were designed using the insight and views of patients, their families and staff. All inpatient wards have single ensuite bedrooms, providing privacy and dignity, and access to communal areas, day spaces, private gardens and additional green space set within Hopewood’s grounds. The facilities also include new clinic and consultation rooms offering space for one to one or group therapy, with services delivered by a range of dedicated and highly skilled staff.
Hopewood is located on an existing Trust site on Mansfield Road in Nottingham. It replaces the Thorneywood Adolescent Unit on Porchester Road in Nottingham and the Mother and Baby Unit previously based at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.
The development was project managed by the Trust and undertaken in partnership with Kier and Gilling Dod Architects.
