Work begins on major new mental health facilities for Dorset
Construction on a multi-million-pound psychiatric intensive care unit will begin early next year
Dorset’s first psychiatric intensive care unit for children and young people will undergo development early next year.
Dorset HealthCare has been allocated more than £70 million to improve inpatient mental health facilities at sites in Bournemouth and Poole.
The first project, situated on Alumhurst Road, will meet the needs of eight people, have a school on-site so children can continue education and host a range social activities.
Meanwhile, the second project, at St Ann’s Hospital in Poole, will see the creation of a replacement adult psychiatric intensive care unit with improved accommodation, ensuring all patients have their own rooms.
Both schemes were granted planning permission by BCP Council earlier this year. After initial enabling works, full construction will start early in the new year, with enhanced patient care in place for 2026.
Matthew Bryant, Dorset HealthCare Chief Executive, said: “These facilities will allow us to care for seriously ill local people close to friends and family in purpose-built, modern accommodation, greatly reducing the need for out-of-area placements and improving people’s chances of recovery.”
Minister for the Lords, Lord Markham joined staff from Dorset HealthCare and peer specialists from Dorset Mental Health Forum to formally get development work underway with a “spade in the ground” ceremony.
He said: “It was a privilege to mark the official start of construction works for these new facilities which will improve mental health care for patients across the Dorset and the wider region.
“These facilities will allow young people to be treated locally near family and friends and boost the number of mental health beds for patients which is a welcome step for the people of Dorset.”