Due to open for admissions in October 2020, the new 27-bed facility will provide an important and much-needed service for women and will offer treatment and rehabilitation through a specialist intensive care unit and an acute service for women.
Special guest at the opening, the Mayor of Hexham Robert Hull, welcomed the launch of Cygnet Hospital Hexham, describing the investment by Cygnet Health Care as a confidence boost for Hexham. After touring the new hospital and meeting staff, Bob Hull, the Mayor of Hexham, said: “I’m delighted to see Cygnet opening such a facility during times when life is so difficult. It’s great to have this service located in Hexham and it shows confidence in the local area. I commend Cygnet for recruiting local people. We want to keep Hexham the happiest place to live in the UK.”
Registered Manager David Williams said it was crucial that women struggling with mental health issues were able to access specialist services. “I am really excited that Cygnet has invested in a dedicated service for women,” he said, “These services exist to respond to the needs of women in a holistic, tailored way, and the ability to cater exclusively for that and to provide privacy, dignity and support is vital when someone has an acute mental health problem and at a time when they are most vulnerable.”
He added: “Our aim is to enable women in our care to live independent lives in the community and feel comfortable in self-managing their mental health. It is absolutely essential that the values we share as a company – centred around care, respect, trust and integrity, and empowering service users to have a voice in their care, are part of how we deliver care to the people we look after. The humanity of looking after people who are vulnerable is fundamental.”
The hospital is split into two distinct wards that have been named after ‘inspirational’ women who became advocates for women’s mental health. Fisher Ward is named after Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher and Franklin Ward after singer Aretha Franklin.
David added: “We know from many amazing role models that women can achieve great things and still have mental health problems. The work we do is based around giving hope – hope that every individual can still achieve their aspirations and fulfil their dreams.”