Final plans for a new child and adolescent mental health unit have been approved by Health Minister Edwina Hart. The new unit, which is expected to open late this year, will have 14 treatment beds and five emergency and high dependency beds.
Since the closure of the outdated children’s mental health centre in Cardiff at the end of 2007, children and young people requiring specialist in-patient services have been cared for at improved facilities at Glanrhyd Hospital in Bridgend.
The new purpose-built centre will be developed at the Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend, due to its central location in south Wales. The project is backed by £26 million Welsh Assembly Government funding, which includes improvements to car parking and access as well as the relocation of children’s services to be adjacent to the new centre.
Benefits
Benefits of the new centre will include integration with wider children’s services and links to local adult mental health services to provide a 24-hour, seven-day service to help children and young people who are experiencing complex mental health problems such as:
- eating disorders
- mood disorders and
- self-harm.
Its proximity to the hospital will also offer access to other specialist services and resources.
Wider plans
The development is part of wider plans to enhance child and adolescent mental health inpatient services in Wales. A new children’s unit was opened in Abergele to meet the needs of patients in north Wales last July.
Mrs Hart said:
“It is important that services are available locally in south Wales to ensure that patients requiring highly specialised care can receive the services they need as close as possible to where they live, near to their families and friends.
“The unit is to be sited near adult mental health services to access support and enable young people to make a smooth transition from young people’s to adult services if required.”
David Sissling, chief executive of Abertawe Bro Morganwwg, said:
“This is a much-needed development for the children and young people of South Wales and we very much welcome the Welsh Assembly Government’s support for the project.”
Dr Christopher Jones, Chair of Cwm Taf Health Board, said:
“Cwm Taf Health Board is delighted by the announcement of this new facility which we know will allow us to continue to enhance this valuable service for the children and young people of South Wales.”
