New unit for mentally ill opens

Up to 34 patients can be housed at the unit

Northern Ireland's first regional secure unit for severely mentally ill patients has opened in south Belfast.

It means adults who need secure medical accommodation will no longer have to go to Carstairs in Scotland or be housed in a long stay psychiatric ward.

The medium secure Shannon Clinic, at Knockbracken Healthcare Park, will provide services for up to 34 patients.

Each of the £9m facility's three wards will have individual patient rooms as well as communal areas.

The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety said the clinic will form an important part of the regional network of Forensic Mental Health Services being developed in Northern Ireland.

The clinic, which has 120 staff, will take referrals from special hospitals, courts and prisons, psychiatric intensive care units and community forensic mental health teams.

Rehabilitation

Its services are for people from throughout Northern Ireland, some, but not all of whom, may have had contact with the judicial system.

The service will provide assessment, treatment, care and rehabilitation with many patients remaining at the clinic for up to two years.

Dr Fred Browne, the clinic's lead clinician, said they would be working in partnership with the families of patients.

"The reality is that the services we have had so far have been inadequate and underdeveloped, they have been rather outmoded in a number of areas, so this new service will provide a great improvement in the quality and standard of care," he said.

He said that they had also tried to be open with people who live in the area and may have concerns about the facility.

"In the last few days we have had perhaps 1,000 people come and visit the new unit and they have been very positive," he said.

"I think what people need to consider in this situation is how this new service compares with what was available beforehand."

High security mental health services will continue to be provided by specialist hospitals in other parts of the UK.