Drop-in Sessions for New Inpatient Facility

Local residents in Blackburn and surrounding areas are invited to attend a drop-in session being held by Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust to find out about a proposed new inpatient facility.

Residents are invited to attend the drop-in sessions being held on Monday 8 September at Shadsworth Leisure Centre and on Tuesday 9 September at Audley and Queen’s Park Neighbourhood Learning Centre to find out about a new development which will provide a state of the art 72 bed mental health inpatient facility for Pennine Lancashire. As part of the Trust’s commitment to providing excellent care, a preferred location for the development has been identified on land next to the Royal Blackburn Hospital opposite the A&E department. Subject to planning approval it is anticipated that the Pennine Lancashire unit will become operational in 2016/17.

Alistair Rose, Project Director at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust said

This will be a purpose built facility providing state of the art and private facilities for service users, similar to The Harbour in Blackpool and The Orchard in Lancaster. The unit will be supported by the high quality specialist community based services that provide a single point of access for people in crisis.

The proposed new unit forms part of the Trust’s ten year programme to provide modernised facilities and the very best in mental health care for people across Lancashire.

“We are keen to hear from local residents with any comments or questions they may have regarding the project and invite them to attend the sessions to share their views and find out more details about our plans.”

There is no need to book your attendance, simply drop in at any point during 4pm and 7pm. If you are unable to attend these sessions and have some queries, please email these to communications@lancashirecare.nhs.uk. You can find out more information about the new developments by visiting www.lancashirecare.ns.uk/newinpatientunits.

As part of the ongoing programme, a new inpatient facility in North Lancashire, The Orchard, was opened in June this year and a facility for the Fylde Coast, The Harbour is currently under construction and due to open in Spring 2015