Psychiatric ward reopens to patients after £1.6m upgrade

It was opened as part of the Bradgate Mental Health Unit on the Glenfield Hospital site in 1998, and this is its first significant refurbishment.

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust has spent £1.6 million on improvements.

Samantha Wood, head of service for mental health inpatients and urgent and emergency care for Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, said: “It looks beautiful. It is really fresh and bright, and much more in keeping with a therapeutic environment for healthcare.

“We hope that the improvements help patients to feel that they are going to be treated in a more therapeutic environment, and their families and carers will see that they are going to be safe. It is also a much nicer place to work for our staff.

“It is really fantastic to see such a big difference in a relatively short space of time. Our staff are really excited to work there again.”

The ward had been temporarily reduced to a capacity of six before the refurbishment, due to damage in one area. That has been put right, and the capacity has been increased to its original ten. Each patient has their own room, with an ensuite toilet and shower.