Hamilton mental health care centre to open in winter 2010

HEALTH board chiefs this week confirmed the new care centre that could house Carstairs patients will probably be open by the end of the year.

Work is said to be “progressing well” on the new mental health residential care centre in Caird Street, Hamilton.

The centre is being built on the site of Beckford Lodge and will provide, in separate parts of the building, 12 beds for people with complex health needs and 15 beds for patients requiring “low secure mental health care”.

Beckford Lodge is next to Caird House, a 10-bed residential care centre for adults with a wide range of complex mental health needs.

Caird House have provided assessment, treatment and rehabilitation services to people with complex needs since 1998.

Tim Davison, NHS Lanarkshire chief executive, said: “NHS Lanarkshire and our partners are committed to providing effective care for people with mental health care needs.

“For the vast majority of people this will be in their own homes and communities.

“For a very small minority of people, this will be in modern residential care centres. In all cases, this care will be sensitive to the needs of both the individuals and the communities in which they live.

“One in four adults in Lanarkshire will have mental health care needs at some point in their life.

“Being treated locally in a modern community environment with the right level of care, treatment and security is an important part of the recovery process.”

Mr Davison made the comments after he and other officials visited the site to see for themselves the progress of the work.

The new development has been a source of controversy since the emergence of rumours that it was to house some patients currently incarcerated at the State Hospital in Carstairs.

Some of Scotland’s most dangerous men are held at the establishment.

In October, following concern expressed by people living near Caird Street, an NHS Lanarkshire spokesman said patients considered suitable for release from the State Hospital would normally move to a 74-bed unit at Glasgow’s Stobhill Hospital.

He added: “I couldn’t say categorically that someone wouldn’t go from the State Hospital to (the new development). If it did happen, it would be the result of careful clinical assessment or following a decision from a mental health tribunal.”