A total investment of £4 million has been made into the hospital overall, enhancing and modernising the facilities. Along with the environmental updates, the service has embarked on a Quality Improvement Project which has included changes in leadership and additional training opportunities for new and existing staff.
Co-production has been at the heart of the developments, with Bill, a local Expert by Experience, providing feedback throughout.
Bill said: “I chat with Ricky (Hospital Manager), regularly and he’s been really proactive in seeking the opinion of service users. I have been able to gather feedback from people from different Cygnet sites which has shaped the plans for the new wards.
“Some of the most popular comments were around keeping the environment feeling as open and spacious as possible, and using colour to make it feel more homely and relaxing. I’m looking forward to seeing how this comes to life on the new wards.”
West Ward is the first new ward to open and will be followed by Roxeth Ward, a PICU for men, opening later this year. Service users will be supported by a multi-disciplinary team including psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists and more.
Both services will focus on length of stay, supporting individuals to move as quickly and safely as possible to the most appropriate and least restrictive environment for them.
Ricky Mugwagwa, Hospital Manager, said: “I’m delighted that we are expanding our emergency mental health services to be able to support even more people, closer to home.
“We recognise how the environment is a crucial element in the delivery of positive outcomes for service users, their safety and the safety of staff and the wider community.
“The developments at Cygnet Hospital Harrow have been a collaborative effort and we put service users at the heart of our planning, utilising feedback from those with lived experience to provide a service that is compassionate, meets their needs and provides the optimum environment for high quality care.
“The changes we have made at Cygnet Hospital Harrow will provide a safe, comfortable and calming physical setting, which will promote successful recovery as well as giving our staff the facilities they need to provide the most effective care and support.”