New mental health units open at Kingsway Hospital in Derbyshire
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has recently opened two state-of-the-art inpatient units at Kingsway Hospital in Derby - marking a major step forward in local psychiatric care as part of the trust's Making Room for Dignity Programme.
Kingfisher House is a 14-bed male psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU). This cutting-edge mental health facility in Derbyshire is designed to support men experiencing mental health crises who require a higher level of support than an acute setting.
The opening of Kingfisher House means service users can now receive the care they need closer to home, improving continuity of care and reducing the stress of being treated far from family and support networks.
Mark Powell, Chief Executive at Derbyshire Healthcare said: "The opening of Kingfisher House is a proud moment for the trust and a vital step forward in our mission to end inappropriate out-of-area placements.
"Until now, Derbyshire was one of the only regions in England without a local psychiatric intensive care unit. This meant that men in acute mental health crisis requiring intensive care had to be placed in facilities outside the county - often far from their families and support networks.
"This not only disrupted continuity of care but also added emotional and logistical strain on service users and their loved ones. Kingfisher House directly addresses this gap, enabling people to receive the right care, closer to home."
Derbyshire Healthcare has also opened Audrey House, a newly refurbished eight-bed enhanced care unit (ECU) for women with complex mental health needs. It offers a safe, therapeutic environment tailored to support women experiencing high levels of need than an acute setting. 
Designed with input from service users, carers and clinical staff, Audrey House features single en-suite bedrooms and dedicated therapeutic spaces - ensuring comfort, safety and dignity.
Mark Powell added: "The opening of Audrey House marks another significant milestone in our commitment to providing high-quality, person-centred care.
"While the number of women requiring a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) bed is relatively low, the trust identified a clear need for a facility that bridges the gap between acute care and PICU. Audrey House responds to this need by offering enhanced support for women whose mental health needs are more complex, ensuring they receive the right level of care in a safe and therapeutic environment.
"This new unit will ensure that women with complex needs can receive the right care, in the right environment, close to home. It also reflects our ongoing efforts to reduce out-of-area placements and improve outcomes for service users and their families."
Derbyshire Healthcare's Making Room for Dignity programme will remove all dormitory-style accommodation to completely revamp mental health inpatient facilities across Derbyshire. The programme's new builds include the Carsington Unit, 54-bed unit at the Kingsway Hospital in Derby and the Derwent Unit, a 54-bed unit at the Chesterfield Royal Hospital site.
The programme also includes two other refurbishment projects - Bluebell Ward, a ward for older adults with acute mental health needs based at Walton Hospital in Chesterfield, and the Radbourne Unit at the Royal Derby Hospital.