New £12.6m mental health facility opens in Maidstone
A new state of the art mental health facility has opened in Maidstone to replace the former ward in Medway
A new multi-million pound replacement mental health ward, designed specifically for older patients, has opened.
Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) has today (March 8) opened a new hospital ward for older women with mental health conditions to replace a Medway ward deemed insufficient.
Ruby Ward in Medway Maritime had 14 beds and was being wound down last year while the construction of the new ward, also called Ruby Ward, was being prepared at KMPT’s Hermitage Lane site in Maidstone.
The ward specialises in mental healthcare for older women, particularly those diagnosed with dementia.
The new site has an increased 16 beds available and KMPT says it has more space for patients and staff.
The new site will start welcoming patients on March 14.
It was opened by the MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, Helen Whately (Con) with KMPT chair, Dr Jackie Craissati, chief executive Sheila Stenson, and staff.
'I wish every NHS facility in Medway was like that'
KMPT chief executive Sheila Stenson said:
“I am delighted to see our new, state-of-the-art Ruby Ward open its doors to our patients and bring an end to the last of our old, outdated dormitory wards.
“I am committed to ensuring our buildings are fit for purpose and enable us to provide the very best care to our patients and that is exactly what we have created here.”
Although KMPT say the move will improve facilities, some of the Towns’ councillors have expressed concern residents will receive a worse service as they now have to travel for something previously on their doorstep.
Medway Council’s deputy leader and chair of the council’s health and wellbeing board, Cllr Teresa Murray (Lab), said she previously had reservations about the service being taken out of the Towns, but it would mean a much superior service for those who needed it.
She said: “It is a fantastic facility and I wish every NHS facility in Medway was like that."
Cllr Murray also said KMPT were looking to add services to Medway and had promised the return of a recovery house which will provide a safe place for people with an emerging or short-term mental health crisis.
The site has also been specifically designed to meet KMPT’s ambition for being a net-zero carbon emission NHS trust through energy saving lighting, heat retaining flooring, and the use of solar panels.