New mental health facility welcomes first inpatients

A new purpose-built £8m mental health facility for young people in Leicestershire has this week welcomed its first inpatients.

The Beacon, named to represent hope for a brighter future, was co-designed by staff from Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust's specialist child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) and young people. 

The Trust said: "It offers a safe, welcoming and positive environment for individuals who need mental health inpatient care, supporting them, and their families, on the journey to recovery. The facility has 15 beds, an increase on the current 10 bed provision, and in future will be able to offer care for young people with eating disorders who require an inpatient stay. Young people have previously had to go out of area for this specialist care."

The Beacon is situated on the Glenfield Hospital Site.

Helen Thompson, director of families, young people and children's services at LPT said: "I'm delighted that we have been able to welcome our first inpatients to The Beacon. From the outset, our vision has been to ensure the voice of the young person is at the heart of the care provided here, which is why involving them in the building's look and feel was so important. The Beacon's location in Leicester, right in the centre of the East Midlands, and the fact that we are now able to offer 15 beds rather than 10, means that more young people will be able to be able to be treated closer to home. The building is surrounded by greenery and flooded with light. It's a wonderful environment that will really support recovery." 

The Beacon has individual, ensuite bedrooms, rather than dormitory style accommodation. It has facilities for Leicester Hospital School, as well as sensory rooms, quiet lounge areas, clinic rooms and an outside garden and sports area. Thanks to a donation from Leicester City Football Club, LPT has been able to build an astro-turfed sports pitch which will be used for a range of activities from five-a-side games to yoga and meditation.

Construction of the Beacon was managed by Interserve Construction Ltd. Divisional Director, Simon Butler, said: "The Beacon has been a fantastic project for us to be a part of, and we are very proud to have worked with LPT to deliver an environment that will enable provision of great mental health care for young people."