New mental health clinic for Surrey young people

The Charlwood clinic will provide care and treatment for patients aged 13-18

A NHS mental health inpatient unit purpose-built for young people has opened in Surrey.

Emerald Place clinic, based in Charlwood, will provide care and treatment for teenagers aged 13-18.

It is the first NHS-funded service of its kind in the county for more than a decade.

Vanessa Fowler, NHS England's south east deputy director of specialised mental health, said: “The voices and views of young people and their families were key to help shape this clinic, ensuring the services offered are truly accessible and meaningful to the range of young people it will help.”

NHS England South East Region has funded £7.1m over three years to enable the delivery of the service.

The clinic provides individual en-suite bedrooms for up to 12 patients, a variety of lounge and recreational spaces, therapy rooms and a school.

It will support and treat young people who have a primary diagnosis of mental illness and will cover a wide range of disorders and complex needs, including mood disorders and acute psychosis.

It is available solely for NHS-funded care and treatment and is part of a national programme to provide specialised services that meet the needs of local communities.

The partnership between Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Elysium Healthcare "brings together complementary expertise and best practice to deliver a high-quality service for young people", a spokesperson said.

Ms Fowler said: “The opening of this new clinic will provide Surrey’s young people timely access to local, specialist inpatient care that is nurturing, safe and therapeutic."

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