A new mental health inpatient unit for young people has opened in Surrey. The unit is the first of its kind to open in the area for more than a decade.

Emerald Place Clinic is a new purpose-built inpatient unit based in Charlwood Surrey that will provide care and treatment for young people aged 13-18. It has been provided by NHS England, and Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust together with Elysium Healthcare.

The clinic is a purpose-built, therapeutic and well-equipped environment which provides 12 individual ensuite bedrooms including a 2-bed Extra Care Area (ECA), a variety of lounge and recreational spaces, therapy rooms and a school.

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

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

NHS England South East’s deputy director of specialised mental health, learning disability/ASD and health & justice, Vanessa Fowler, said: “At NHS England, we have learned that children and young people with mental health problems and their families and carers need timely access to high-quality care, in the right place. As part of a national programme of funding NHS England South East Region has funded £7.1M over three years to enable the delivery of this service.

"The opening of this new clinic will provide Surrey’s young people timely access to local, specialist in-patient care that is nurturing, safe and therapeutic when they need it. The voices and views of young people and their families, with lived experience in Surrey, were key to helping shape this new service now and, in the future, ensuring the services offered here are truly accessible and meaningful to the range of young people it will help.”

Graham Wareham, chief executive of the Trust said: “Young people need to be cared for close to home when they are at their most vulnerable with acute mental health needs. The opening of this new unit will help us provide care and treatment for many young people, so they get the support they need without having to travel far from their families, carers, and friends.

“We are pleased to be partnering with Elysium Healthcare who bring their extensive experience of opening and operating similar units across England, and together, our aim is to transform the care experience for young people needing inpatient services in Surrey.”