£30m investment in mental health services in Bridgend

New state of the art mental health services are to be implemented in Bridgend thanks to over £30 million worth of investment by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Proposals put forward by Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust will mean new build centres for integrated day care and continuing care for patients with mental health problems.

It is vital that we continue to replace outdated services and buildings as treatment advances for many conditions. The new investment will revolutionise care and rehabilitation for people with mental illness and their carers in Bridgend.

As many as one in four people will suffer from mental health problems during their lifetimes. Services are a vital lifeline to some of the most vulnerable people in our area and I am pleased that these developments will provide modern day facilties to deal with modern day issues.

Importantly, the £30 million will help develop services in the community as well which will substantially improve the quality of life for those affected by mental illness.

Points to note:

· The Welsh Assembly Government's NHS Capital Investment Board approved Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust's Full Business Case for the improvements of mental health services in Bridgend and the West of the Vale of Glamorgan.

· The Trust will receive £30.369m in capital funding from the Welsh Assembly Government towards the scheme.

· This investment is part of the Welsh Assembly Government £795million, three-year investment in new buildings and equipment in the NHS in Wales that was announced in 2005.

The developments proposed by Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust include:

· Relocating rehabilitation provision for adults and older people with functional illness in new build accommodation within the community.
· Developing a new build Development Centre and re-provide Ty’r Ardd in conjunction with Day Opportunities.
· Re-providing adult continuing care provision and challenging behaviour for older people in improved accommodation on the Glanrhyd Hospital site.
· Relocating continuing care provision for older people with dementia and for older people with functional illness to new build accommodation in South West Bridgend.
· Providing new build accommodation for continuing care provision for older people with dementia from Maesgwyn in purpose built facilities at Glanrhyd Hospital.
· Jointly developing, with Social Services, the Voluntary Sector and Bridgend LHB, Day Services for Older People with Dementia in South West Bridgend.
· Re-providing accommodation for community Mental Health Teams.