Cygnet Appletree also provides a 10 bed PICU service, Pippin Ward, for women who require intensive short-term care. Bramley Ward will be able to support individuals from Pippin Ward to move through their recovery journey, if required.

The ethos of this service is about assessing and treating service users in the least restrictive environment and planning for discharge in a robust and timely fashion. With a focus on stabilisation, we will support service users to manage their mental health, reinforce daily living skills and prepare for independent life back in the community.

Our team works closely and collaboratively with service users, their families and the referrer to provide a seamless pathway from referral to discharge. Our approach is recovery focused and supported by a comprehensive multi-disciplinary team, contributing to shorter lengths of stay.

Service user profile

• Women, aged 18+
• May be informal or detained under the Mental Health Act
• Experiencing an acute episode of mental illness requiring a crisis admission
• Diagnoses may include:
  • Acute mental illness
  • Acute depressive illness
  • Psychosis
  • Schizophrenia
  • Bi-polar disorder
  • Personality disorder
  • Dual diagnosis
• May present with co-morbid presentations:
  • Self-harm
  • Substance misuse issues
  • Complex needs

Our facilities:

• En-suite bedrooms
• Beauty salon with an on-site beauty therapist
• IT café for computer training
• Therapy kitchen
• Gym / dance studio
• Outdoor spaces including a netball court
• Sensory room
• De-stimulation room

Community links:

• Learndirect
• New College Durham
• Leisure centres
• Sunderland FC – provides sports classes
• Arts and culture groups
• Waddington Street Centre – education and training group