Visit to Rowan View
World-Class Medium Secure Psychiatric Facility Opening in Maghull.
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust’s new £53 million state-of-the-art Rowan View
Medium Secure Unit was handed over by the builders Kier Construction to Mersey
Care in August and is preparing to accept its first service users in November 2020. It
will replace the soon to be decommissioned Scott Clinic Medium Secure Unit at
Rainhill.
The new Rowan View Unit is situated near to Ashworth High Secure Hospital (228
Patients and approximately 1700 staff) and the proposed £33 million low secure
learning disabilities unit (40 bed), in the site collectively known as Maghull Health
Park, representing Maghull’s largest employer.
Rowan View comprises of 123 beds over eight wards (approximately 300-400 staff):
Female Learning Disability (Delamere Ward); Male Learning Disability (Astley and
Birkdale Wards); Female Mental Illness (Eden); Male Mental Illness (Thornton,
Rivington, Vale and Marbury Wards).
The unit provides:
An environment that will promote the integration of physical and mental wellbeing
A social hub incorporating a café, therapy rooms, multi faith room, sports hall,
gymnasium, music rooms, skills for life room, IT suite, bank and a physical health
suite
Use of therapeutic technology for the benefit of patients and staff including virtual
reality and avatar therapy
Art and design created by expert designers working closely with service users to
enhance the site, its reception and corridors and its therapeutic spaces
Flower gardens and green spaces
Built to excellent environmental standards.
Following an invitation from Mersey Care to Maghull Town Council, Cllr Ross
Ferguson and Cllr Dr Frank Sharp, (retirees from Ashworth Hospital) had the
privilege of the visiting the new unit and were both astounded by the world leading
quality of this secure therapeutic environment.
Cllr Ross Ferguson stated that “I can honestly say that I was overwhelmingly
impressed with the building, its design, the build quality, the facilities provided for
both Service Users and Staff and the thoughtful and innovative use of cutting-edge
technology. In my opinion, Mersey Care NHS Trust has created the UK’s Flagship
MSU with Rowan View”.
Cllr Frank Sharp added, “The incredible attention to detail that Rowan View has
adhered to has created an environment that sets a worldwide benchmark. We feel
sure that with a balance of appropriately skilled staff across all disciplines that
Rowan View will be considered a ‘centre of excellence’ for the challenging needs of
its service users. During our visit Maghull Town Council and Mersey Care expressed
a mutual desire to maintain a continued supportive dialogue to develop strong and
meaningful community links and understanding going forward.
