A milestone in the construction of the new £4.4m Intensive Psychiatric Care Unit (IPCU) at Stratheden Hospital was reached when First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, joined Executive Chairman of GRAHAM, Michael Graham, in a sod-cutting ceremony.
Sturgeon said: “This unit is the latest in a series of improvements to modernise the hospital, which cares for people from across Fife.
“The Scottish Government is investing over £2 billion in Scotland’s health infrastructure over the spending review period, with this development being one of many that demonstrate our commitment to continually improving health services.”
Construction of the new IPCU facility, which will consist of an eight-bed unit, is the latest phase of works to modernise large areas of the Stratheden Hospital, which cares for patients with mental illness from across Fife.
The new building will include a communal lounge and rooms for rehabilitative and therapeutic activities. Patients will each have their own single en-suite bedrooms, offering more privacy, while there will also be access to an outdoor courtyard and private meeting rooms for visits from families or visitors.
Sturgeon said: “Mental health services are an absolute priority of this Government and we have been investing heavily for a number of years in mental health provision.
“We have also recently announced our £100m Mental Health Innovation Fund, which is targeting additional investment over the next five years. This new funding will make a real difference to some of the most-vulnerable people in our society."
Hawkins added: “Improving mental health facilities is one of NHS Fife’s key priorities and a great deal of work has been undertaken over recent years to modernise much of the Stratheden Hospital site, with the construction of new facilities like Elmview and Muirview and the significant refurbishment necessary to create the Radernie Low-Secure Unit.
“We are determined that our patients receive the highest-quality care in modern, safe, secure and therapeutic environments and construction of the new unit is crucial to achieving that aim.”
The facility is being developed by GRAHAM Construction.
