Child mental health unit opening

The unit is able to treat a variety of mental health problems

A new mental health unit for children and young people in north Wales will help stop patients having to be treated across the border in England.

The £15m unit, which is officially opened on Friday, has been sited at Abergele Hospital in Conwy county because of its central location.

It will give help and support for children and young people experiencing mental health problems.

The unit will provide a seven-day service with 24-hour emergency cover.

It will also include an acute care ward, a treatment ward and an on-site school.

The new purpose-built buildings have been designed for young patients experiencing mental health problems such as severe eating disorders, mood disorders and self-harm issues.

This is an exciting new development which will be a centre of excellence for north Wales Dr Clare Lamb

Many patients were previously being treated in England due to a lack of facilities.

Dr Clare Lamb, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, said the unit would help provide a quality service to "this most vulnerable group of children and adolescents, with very complex needs".

"This is an exciting new development which will be a centre of excellence for north Wales," she said.

The existing service at a large house in Colwyn Bay was considered "not fit for purpose" - which led to many young people being transferred to units in England, away from family and local services.

This caused particular problems for children and families whose first language was Welsh.

Specialist care

North Wales NHS Trust chairman, Michael Williams, stressed the importance of providing services close to home.

"For this group of patients it is especially important that we can care for them locally within north Wales rather than having to transfer people to services in England, away from family and friends," he said.

Health Minister Edwina Hart, who was officially opening the unit which has been funded by the assembly government, said the service would "greatly improve" the specialist care on offer locally.

"This is part of a wider commitment to mental health, with new facilities for young people in south Wales and additional mental health units for adults in north Wales due to be completed over the next two years," she said.

"I am determined to further improve services across Wales by increasing the capacity to deal with mental health issues and by raising the profile of mental health services within the NHS."