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17.
October
2017.
St Charles Mental Health Unit redeveloped for patients

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11 October 2017

For immediate release

St Charles Mental Health Unit will be redeveloped over the next six months with work due to commence on Monday 23 October.

Stephen Parker, Inpatient Service Manager for Kensington and Chelsea, has said: "A person's surroundings have a huge effect on their wellbeing so we're always striving to create the most welcoming and comfortable environment for our patients. So, we're really grateful to have been granted capital funding from NHS England to redesign St Charles' Health Based Place of Safety (the Section 136 suite) to be larger, more comfortable, and more responsive to service users, their families and staff. The work will expand our capacity from one to three suites, with one dedicated for the first time to Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster CAMHS patients. We will also refurbish our reception area and provide a Service User Café for a more welcoming and secure environment for patients and visitors."

"Inevitably, there will be disruption to staff and patients over the coming months but we will limit this as much as we can. The result will be lighter, brighter and more spacious areas that our staff and patients are able to relax and feel safer in. We are grateful for the help and involvement of patients and carers in planning this development from the start of this project."

"We think you will agree this be worth it."

Notes for editor:

Pictures attached show what the redevelopment for the main areas will look like. For a full preview of the layout and planning, including how the cafe will look please visit the news section of our website: http://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/news/letter-stephen-parker-redevelopment-st-charles-mental-health-unit/

The construction work, starting on Monday October 23, will last for approximately 6 months. The work will be in two phases: the first being the reception area and the second phase involving the Health Based Place of Safety suites, from about December 2017.

People who would have been admitted to the Section 136 suite at St Charles MHU will be taken to Brent and Westminster during the refurbishment period; our acute inpatient wards will not be directly affected and will remain open.

If you have any questions or comments about the project, please call the St Charles Management Team on 020 8206 7281.

For media enquiries please contact:

Jessica.Cooke3@nhs.net

02032145763

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Stephenson House, 75 Hampstead Road, London NW1 2PL
Tel: 020 3214 5756 e-mail:
communications.cnwl@nhs.net