£30 million to make wards better for people with mental iIllness

Citation

(2001), "£30 million to make wards better for people with mental iIllness", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 14 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2001.06214eab.008

£30 million to make wards better for people with mental iIllness

£30 million to make wards better for people with mental iIllness

The sum of £30 million is to be made available over the next two years to improve wards and conditions for psychiatric patients in the UK – the biggest ever boost to in-patient mental health care. The programme marks a radical programme of modernisation for mental health wards, in line with the Government's continued efforts to improve and modernise mental health services.

Many psychiatric wards are in a poor state of repair and in need of refurbishment and decoration. Some wards are not designed to meet basic requirements for the safety, privacy and dignity of patients. Priority has now been given to improving standards and, for the first time, national allocations have been made directly to mental health trusts.

Professor Louis Appleby, National Director for Mental Health said:

"I am delighted that the poor physical environment of some of psychiatric wards can now be addressed. Access to care in decent surroundings is an important part of a comprehensive mental health service. This initiative will go a long way towards improving the experience of those who need in-patient care.

"The improvement of the wards will not only aid general therapy but also address issues regarding mixed sex facilities and suicide prevention measures."

Money will be targeted at those wards most in need of improvement.

The refurbishment comes as part of broader package to improve in-patient care including:

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  an in-patient care project group to look at how to achieve high quality inpatient care and good practice initiatives;

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  guidance on dealing with substance misuse in mental health settings will be issued shortly;

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  priority to be given to in-patient care in the mental health research programme.