Date published: 17 October 2024
Mersey Care has decided to pilot the Trust’s first ever Psychiatric Clinical Decision Unit (PCDU) which will provide a comfortable place for service users to receive an extended mental health assessment.
The Mere Suite at Hartley Hospital in Southport will provide assessment rooms, overnight facilities, a dining area, bathrooms and outside space for service users aged over 18 who need extra time for their assessment.
“We’ve had to think outside the box a little to be able to support our service users, short term, during difficult times,” explained Lynn Hughes, Mersey Care’s Deputy Divisional Director Mental Health Urgent Care.
“Sometimes we need more time to assess how best to help people who come to us in crisis with their mental health and this new facility will help in that. It will provide comfortable surroundings to make key decisions about how best to care for those who are referred into the PCDU.”
The new PCDU will be able to home service users for up to 48 hours and has space for two people, who will be admitted after a robust risk assessment. Staff on site will include registered mental health nurses and support workers, on duty 24/7, ensuring needs are being met, with access to further support if needed.
More information about the new service and how to refer, via Mersey Care’s other crisis mental health services, can be found on their dedicated web page within this website.
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