England's Director of Mental Health opens new psychiatric intensive care unit
A new psychiatric intensive care unit in Newcastle and North Tyneside was officially opened in April 2009 by the National Director for Mental Health, Professor Louis Appleby.
Designed by MAAP in their Newcastle office for Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust, the Greentrees unit is part of the redevelopment on St Nicholas Hospital site, Gosforth. The official opening coincided with the first leg of Appleby’s national New Horizons tour, Professor Appleby said: “This is a tremendous facility and something the trust should be justifiably proud of."
The unit provides 14 ensuite bedrooms for inpatients, modern and comfortable lounges with a women-only area, a games room and small gym and courtyard. New entrances have been created in the historic frontage and through the new build slate-clad façade. Demolition of parts of the Victorian building was kept to a minimum as staff offices, day activity and therapy rooms were located in the existing building allowing the bedrooms to be grouped in the new build to create the secure courtyard for patients.
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