A massive £8m has been pumped into a new centre in Wakefield for male psychiatric patients – some of whom could be offenders.
South Yorkshire Mental Health Trust says the new centre which opens today will treat people from Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield who need to receive NHS care in a "low secure environment".
Called The Bretton Centre, it will be opened on the cu
rrent Fieldhead site in Ouchthorpe Lane, Wakefield.
Trust bosses say it will provide: "assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of people with severe mental health problems who require care under low secure conditions and who may have been in contact with the criminal justice system."
The centre also includes a pre-discharge unit and access to a dedicated Therapy and Recreation Centre.
The £8m investment has been spent converting four vacant buildings and has been in development since 2006.
It has been developed in response to public consultation to relocate services previously provided at the Castle Hill unit on the St Luke's site in Huddersfield.
The recreation centre will include a music studio, a fully equipped gym, art and crafts room, function room, rehabilitation kitchen, IT suite, sports/recreation hall, a coffee shop and access to Patient Advice and Liaison services.
Trust chief executive, Steven Michael said: "I'm delighted we have opened this new facility which not only provides an enhanced service to the people of Calderdale and Kirklees but also extends provision to the Wakefield district, enabling more local people to receive NHS treatment closer to home.
"The new facilities will help us to provide care that meets individual needs from admission through to discharge."
The clinical team at the site has been expanded and now includes an additional consultant psychiatrist, a larger psychology team, more than double the numbers in the occupational team, a dedicated drugs and alcohol worker; physiotherapy input, dietitian input and over 30 extra nurses.
Joyce Catterick, Trust chairman, said: "The Bretton Centre has transformed existing space into a high quality, bright and pleasant environment for patients and staff as well as incorporating the very latest in safety security equipment.
"People who use the service have been involved in many of the decisions to ensure we have designed a facility that fully meets their needs.
"The whole service highlights how additional investment brings real benefit to local people who need NHS care."
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