NAViGO Health and Social Care Community Interest Company is pleased to announce the opening of the refurbished older people’s mental health acute assessment unit based at The Gardens, Diana Princes of Wales Hospital.
After a redesign of the unit, Kevin Bond, chief executive of NAViGO will officially open the Konar Suite on Friday, February 3.
The Konar Suite offers 10 acute assessment beds, all with en-suite facilities for older people with both functional (i.e. depression) and organic (i.e. dementia) mental health problems.
The redesign of the unit has come about following an increase in the service options provided by NAViGO. The introduction of home treatment means that NAViGO is now able to assess and provide treatment in service users’ own homes, preventing admission or enabling early discharge back into the home environment. The in-patient services provided at The Gardens have been redesigned to reflect this.
Val Moore, acute service manager for NAViGO who manages the Konar Suite, said: “We have seen a shift in the needs of people using our service since The Gardens was first opened in 2006.
“The new design of the unit is much better suited to the changing nature of the types of mental health problems we now see.
“We are looking forward to reopening the Suite and I would like to thank all of our staff for their hard work in getting the unit ready.”
This unit has been named in memory of Dr Sugata Konar who worked as both consultant psychiatrist and medical director in North East Lincolnshire. Dr Konar was medical director during a period of complete change to local mental health services. His passion was the care of older people and his flexibility and foresight working with colleagues and people who used the services ensured the move from old out-dated wards to the vastly improved designs and facilities today.
The project has been completed by NAViGO’s own property services, Tukes, which provides employment opportunities and training for people with mental health problems.
Mike Reeve, head of adult mental health services for NAViGO, said: “NAViGO is committed to providing the highest quality services for older people with mental health problems and the redesign of the Konar suite reflects our dedication to designing services with our service users’ needs at the heart of what we offer.
“The opening of the Konar Suite is part expanding older people’s services, providing award winning services to the people of North East Lincolnshire.”
For more information about the services provided at The Gardens please visit the NAViGO website: www.navigocare.co.uk