Two new mental health hospitals in Derbyshire, the Carsington Unit at Kingsway in Derby and the Derwent Unit in Chesterfield, are anticipated to open later this year as part of a £150 million mental health care program. The 54-bed inpatient hospitals, catering to male and female patients, aim to enhance safety, privacy, and dignity for individuals receiving psychiatric care.
Construction is well underway, and the new facilities, along with additional services, are expected to generate over 200 jobs. Vacancies will include positions for mental health nurses, occupational therapists, and various allied health professionals, as well as other clinical and non-clinical roles.
The Carsington Unit in Derby will be exclusively for male patients, while the Derwent Unit in Chesterfield will serve both men and women. The initiative aligns with the goal of providing specialized care environments tailored to different patient needs.
In addition to the new hospitals, plans include the refurbishment of Audrey House at Kingsway, Derby, to establish a new eight-bed enhanced care unit for women, set to open later this year. Progress is also being made on refurbishing two 17-bed mental health wards for female patients at the Radbourne Unit, located at Derby Royal Hospital. Services currently offered to male patients at Radbourne will transfer to the new Carsington Unit upon its opening.
Furthermore, a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for 14 men on the Kingsway site, known as Kingfisher House, is in development and could be completed later this year.
Mark Powell, Chief Executive of Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, the organization overseeing the new buildings, emphasized the valuable input received from service users and carers in shaping facilities that meet the diverse needs of those accessing mental health services. The new hospitals aim to provide patients with single, en-suite bedrooms, fostering privacy, dignity, and maximum control over their environment to facilitate optimal rest and healing.
