Specialist Perinatal Service appoints new manager!

THE Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust has successfully recruited a Perinatal Service Manager who will lead the new team at the new, specialist inpatient unit in Chorley. Earlier this year, NHS England selected the Trust as a preferred provider to run 1 of the 4, new 8 bed mother and baby units (MBU) in the country. The unit is an inpatient facility for mothers with serious mental health problems during the perinatal period. The new MBU means that the Trust can provide the support and treatment that women need whilst continuing to be with their babies. Last month, the Trust successfully appointed the Perinatal Service Manager who will begin post in February. Philip Hayes, Perinatal Service Manager at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust said of the appointment:- "I am so excited about the new facility. It's amazing that our Trust has been given the mandate to build this specialist unit and I'm proud to be part of the new project. Thankfully perinatal mental health has finally been given the publicity and governmental support it has needed for many years. Mothers will be able to receive the care they need nearer to home whilst making partners and families lives easier too with reduced travel time. There is a structured training and recruitment plan to ensure that when the unit opens we are able to offer the best support and care for mother and their babies. I live in the Chorley area and there is already a buzz of excitement building as the project gains momentum and staff I come into contact are asking questions about this specialist branch of mental health care!"

The Trust plans to open the unit in July 2018 and will be recruiting a for a number of posts in the New Year including; Band 6 registered mental health nurses (RMNs), staff nurses, nursery nurses, a psychologist and occupational therapist. Later in the year the Trust will also be recruiting a number of health care support staff. The unit is a huge step forward for everyone involved in Prenatal Mental Health across Cumbria and Lancashire. The Trust is also looking for people to be involved in the planning of the new unit and has set up a closed Facebook group for people to share experiences and have discussions about the plans for the unit. If you would like to join the group, please email your details to:- Communications@LancashireCare.NHS.UK.