Acute Mental Health Services

The South Eastern Trust provides acute and community mental health services to a resident population of 358,708 . This population is expected to increase to 372,266 by 2025 and 381,706 by 2035. The Trust currently delivers acute inpatient treatment across three sites:

Lagan Valley Hospital: 21 beds
Downe Hospital: 25 beds
Ulster Hospital: 24 beds
Ward 27 Intensive Care Unit Downshire Hospital: 6 Intensive Care beds and 10 Low secure bed
Downshire Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit: 6 Intensive Care beds

Total Beds: 76 beds for those individual requiring acute mental health inpatient support and an additional 10 for low secure patients who require a longer period of care.

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• Ward 27 Ulster Hospital

  Ward 27 Ulster Hospital is a 24 bedded acute mental health inpatient ward which cares for individual aged 18-65 years and functionally mentally ill individuals aged over 65 years without diagnosis of Dementia. Individuals who present with acute psychotic presentations, depressive illnesses, individuals with relapsed serious mental illness which require stabilisation and treatment. Individuals with personality disorder, co-morbid disorders, first presentation of mental illness which requires assessment and treatment.

  Parking is available on the Ulster Hospital site and pay points are available at the entrances of the ward block.

• Ward 12 Adult Psychiatry Lagan Valley Hospital

  Ward 12 Adult Psychiatry Lagan Valley Hospital is a 20 bedded acute mental health inpatient ward which cares for individual aged 18-65 years.

  Both voluntary and detained patients are cared for.

  Individuals present with a range of illnesses including psychosis and mood disorders, both first presentation and continuing disorders. Other individuals present with depressive/ anxiety disorders, self- harm and suicidal ideation. Other conditions treated in this service include the care and treatment of individuals with personality disorder and substance misuse.

  Parking is available on the Lagan Valley Hospital site and pay points are available at the entrances of the ward block.

• Ward 11 Adult Psychiatry Lagan Valley

  Ward 11 is a six bedded inpatient unit for older people with Functional Mental health illnesses.

• Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit Downshire Hospital (PICU)
  • PICU is a 6 bedded unit.

  The Psychiatric Intensive care is a specialist service that provides inpatient mental health care, assessment and comprehensive treatment to patients who are experiencing the most acutely disturbed phase of a serious mental disorder that cannot be safely managed within the acute mental health environment. Admissions to Psychiatric Intensive care usually present with an acute presentation of Schizophrenia, Schizo-Affective Disorder or Bi-Polar Affective Disorder. The aim of a PICU ward is to manage the risks associated with acute episodes of illness as soon as possible. The length of stay varies dependant on each patient’s assessed individual needs. During the admission, the care and treatment of each patient is continually assessed with the ultimate aim of transfer back to a less restrictive environment, usually an acute admission ward for the continuation of treatment and discharge planning. This is co-ordinated at a weekly Multi-Disciplinary Team assessment meeting. On occasions it may be appropriate to discharge directly home or to another community setting.

• Mental Health Inpatient Unit Down

  The Mental Health Inpatient Unit Downe Hospital is a 25 bed, acute mental health, inpatient ward which cares for individuals aged 18-65 years and individuals aged over 65 with a functional mental illness but without diagnosis of Dementia. Both voluntary and detained patients are cared for. Individuals present with a range of illnesses including psychosis and mood disorders, both first presentation and continuing disorders. Other individuals present with depressive/ anxiety disorders, self- harm and suicidal ideation. Other conditions treated in this service include the care and treatment of individuals with personality disorder, and substance misuse.

  At present there is no parking fee at the main parking area which is at the front of the Downe Hospital.