Proposed psychiatric unit offers glimmer of hope for mentally ill children in Dorset

Dorset HealthCare NHS Trust, which provides community health services across Dorset, has submitted a new design for a child psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU), following BCP Council’s rejection of an initial proposal in 2018.

The eight-bedroom unit, to be based in Alumhurst Rd in Westbourne, would be the first of its kind in Dorset and allow children with severe mental health needs to access support near to home; they often travel miles, away from family and friends, to seek appropriate treatment. The facility would house 12-18 year olds and be an extension of Dorset’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). 

Being granted permission for the new PICU would be “a huge step forward” says Dorset HealthCare’s Rachel Small: "It would mean for the first time we can provide PICU care locally, rather than send young people to units outside of Dorset.” 

A statement submitted to the council said: 

“There is a recognised shortage of CAMHS PICU beds in the south of the country. This means young people from Dorset are being sent out of the area for care - on average 91 miles away from home. 

“Because of this, recovery takes longer and costs the NHS more than it needs to. By creating the PICU, the aim is to reduce waiting times for admissions or transfer from eight to six weeks, and patient recovery time reduced from 103 to 75 days by 2025, for young people in Dorset and the surrounding area.” 

Dorset HealthCare says the need for mental health services is ever-increasing, with more people seeking help over the last decade and a huge rise in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The young people in question are those in severe mental health crisis, with significant and complex needs, requiring 24-hour, secure care. For instance, there has been a significant increase in eating disorder referrals with large numbers of young people waiting for inpatient beds. Others may have been detained under the Mental Health Act for their own protection and that of others, or they may be at high risk of suicide and self-harm. Sometimes these cases are difficult to manage on an open ward. 

The PICU is part of the government’s New Hospitals Programme in which Dorset HealthCare has been allocated £67 million for two new mental health building schemes. The second project, currently in draft form, proposes a new adult inpatient facility at St. Ann’s Hospital in Poole and will go before neighbouring residents later this month. 

You can have your say on the PICU application on the BCP's website until 18 November. “Having a strong public backing would undoubtedly help our case,” said Rachel. 

Young people can find mental health support at www.youngminds.org.uk or www.mind.org.uk 

By Emily McGregor, Local News and Lifestyle Reporter

Photo credit: Adrian Swancar on Unsplash