New mental health possible another two years away.

May 13 2011 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

A BRAND new psychiatric hospital won’t be built for at least another two years.

Plans for the hospital, which will replace the out-dated Ailsa Hospital, were first approved in 2009.

But the lengthy and complex legal process means that the foundations won’t be laid until the end of 2013.

People gave their views on the future of mental health services in 2008 and voted overwhelmingly for a newly built facility at Ayrshire Central in Irvine.

Nicola Sturgeon approved the decision in March 2009.

That allowed health chiefs to move forward and begin work on a business case – mandatory process when health boards are planning a new facility with a cost of more than £5 million.

Jim Crichton, director of mental health services for Ayrshire and Arran, explained: “This includes preparing an Outline Business Case (OBC) and a Full Business Case (FBC).

“We submitted our Outline Business Case to the Scottish Government in December 2010 and are awaiting feedback.

“If the Government approves the OBC, we will then be able to prepare the Full Business Case.

“Once the FBC has been submitted to the Government and has received approval we can begin construction. This should be by the end of 2013.”

But Mr Crichton insists that patients are receiving top class care while the plans are in the pipeline.

He said: “We are ensuring that the existing facilities at Ailsa Hospital best meet our patients' needs.

“It is important that we try to provide the best possible environment and accommodation for our current service users so we have retained the best of our estate for our inpatient services and continue to invest in improvements to meet their ongoing care needs.”

Several areas of the hospital have recently been refurbished and wards which closed have reopened in recent weeks.

Mr Crichton added: “All of the changes are being viewed positively as they will provide improved and more suitable accommodation for our service users.

“We have engaged with our service users and involved them in the project from the beginning along with advocacy services, carers, relatives and staff.”