Tour of new Calderstones mental health unit

Coun. Richard Sherras was welcomed by Trust chairman Rupert Nichols for a tour of a state-of-the-art mental health facility nearing completion at the Calderstone’s Whalley site.

The £7.5m. residential facility – known as Maplewood 2 – is being built by John Turner Construction Group and is due to open by the end of the year.

It will be home to over 30 of the Trust’s patients as they progress through their care pathway with support from clinical staff, occupational therapists and many others.

“I am delighted to explore this new property,” said the Mayor. “And am looking forward to its opening and seeing service users getting good use from its facilities.”

Coun. Sherras and Mayoress Mrs Lynne Pate joined Calderstones staff and patients for a “topping out” ceremony as the last roof tile was installed. This tile was placed by David Young, the Trust’s chief executive.

Mr Young said: “This new building shows how Calderstones continues to move forward.

“Our service users deserve the highest level of support and I am proud that with Maplewood 2, the Trust is demonstrating its commitment to providing state of the art facilities for some of the most vulnerable people in society.”

Much of the old Calderstones hospital has been demolished over the last decade and a new housing development now sits where old ward buildings which dated from the early twentieth century used to be. The new property enables service users to live and receive intensive support in an energy efficient, purpose built environment with the remaining older buildings being refurbished for other uses, or, ultimately, to be decommissioned.

For some patients, the tour was the first chance to see inside what will be their new home. They have been involved throughout the building programme; looking at plans, choosing décor and colour schemes.