New centre in Wigan to help people in mental health crisis

‘The Makerfield Suite’ is a dedicated space for patients experiencing a mental health crisis who present at the Emergency Department at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan.

Run by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH); and developed in partnership with Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL); the Makerfield Suite is a purpose-built mental health assessment area, providing a calm and comfortable environment for people in a mental health crisis, as part of the Trust’s main Emergency Department.

The area will be staffed by mental health professionals who will be able to complete mental health assessments and signpost people to the most appropriate treatment or service.

This means patients will be able to receive the right mental health care at the right time, whilst reducing demand on the Emergency Department.

The Makerfield Suite held an opening event on Friday 14 July 2023. Amongst those attending was Member of Parliament for Wigan & Leigh, Lisa Nandy, alongside staff who will be working in the area, and members of the Executive Management Teams at GMMH and WWL.

The area was developed collaboratively with people with lived experience of mental health difficulties and their carers, who also attended event.

The Makerfield Suite will be in operation from Monday 31 July 2023. Patients and carers who attended the service in its former location previously said, “they communicated amazingly, they assisted and supported me” and “Health Care Assistants helped to calm mum’s emotions during her time in the streaming area, which had a positive outcome.”

Damian McAuley, Service Manager – Wigan Urgent Care & Inpatient Services at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust said:

“We are absolutely delighted to be launching the Makerfield Suite for the people of Wigan and Leigh. This dedicated area will provide a safe space for people experiencing a mental health crisis, who may otherwise find the busy Emergency Department distressing.

“It was so important to us to listen to and work with those who have lived experience of accessing mental health crisis care, to make sure this area will be suitable for anyone who needs support. We are so thankful to all our fantastic Wigan and Leigh service users who took the time to share their experiences and work with us, alongside our WWL colleagues, to co-create something we are really proud of.”

Rebecca McCarren, Divisional Director of Nursing & Allied Health Professionals at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said,:

“I am so pleased and proud to see the launch of the Makerfield Suite at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary. The integration of mental health and physical health care services is key to patients living with mental health conditions to achieve parity.

“To have this service co-located within our Emergency Department at WWL is fantastic and will ensure that the people of Wigan and Leigh have access to a dedicated safe space during times of mental health crisis.

“Through this service our staff will continue to work collaboratively and side by side with GMMH to ensure that patients attending our Emergency Department receive the right mental health care at the right time.”

Lisa Nandy, MP for Wigan, said:

“It was a real privilege to launch the Makerfield Suite and to join the wonderful staff who will be working there.

“Good mental health is so important to all of us, and it is particularly good that this space has been developed in collaboration with people who have experienced mental health difficulties, so that it can best support those who may need it in future.

“The last few difficult years have been another reminder of how much we owe the amazing staff who work in our health service and look after us and our families in times of need, and it is fantastic for our town to now have a dedicated place where people who need support with their mental health can go for expert care.”