New Carlisle dementia unit gets the go-ahead

Construction on a state-of-the-art dementia unit in Carlisle will begin next month, after the Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust confirmed a £2.6m investment.

The development will see the Ruskin Unit of the Carleton Clinic site relocated, with work commencing on a 15 en-suite bedroom facility designed to incorporate the latest innovations in dementia care and to offer a peaceful and secure living environment.

Nurse consultant in old age psychiatry for Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Valerie Provan, says:

"I am excited by the prospect of re-developing Ruskin Unit. The new unit will be a contemporary facility offering numerous features to help dementia patients. For example the new unit will offer an enclosed external courtyard and garden spaces, social spaces that provide a comfortable and dignified environment to meet relatives and friends, and activity spaces to support independence in daily activities where possible. The activity spaces are designed to help patients to maintain their existing skills and abilities.

"The improvements will reduce the length of stay for patients, reduce the need for medication, and improve complex behaviour associated with dementia. With numbers of people with dementia set to keep rising, the new Ruskin Unit will really help the people of Carlisle and surrounding areas."

The Trust hopes the new unit will provide a positive example of mental health care, against the stigma often associated with conditions like dementia, made possible through integrated working with a co-located Memory Service and partner organisations and charities.

Carers will incorporate recognised best practice, advised by the King’s Fund and Stirling University Guide, as well as offering additional features such as personalised ‘memory boxes’ to help residents feel at one with the service and their surroundings.