Inside Manchester's new £105m mental health hospital that's 'more like a five-star hotel', says boxer Ricky Hatton
The £105m mental health unit at the heart of the redevelopment of North Manchester General Hospital has been officially opened.
Boxing legend Ricky Hatton MBE today, March 21, led the celebrations for the state-of-the-art inpatient mental health hospital. The hospital, North View, is on the North Manchester General Hospital site and will provide state-of-the-art treatment environments, therapeutic support, and round-the-clock care in a purpose-built facility designed to promote dignity, privacy and well-being, says Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust.
"The hospital features modern patient accommodation, communal therapy spaces, and landscaped gardens to support holistic recovery," added the trust. "It is a purpose-built unit offering state-of-the-art facilities, where round-the-clock care and treatment can be provided in a therapeutic environment, designed to promote dignity, privacy and wellbeing."
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The new in-patient unit provides:
150 single en-suite bedrooms to be provided over nine single sex wards, including a purpose-built Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, six adult acute wards for female and male adults, one rehabilitation ward, one older adults' ward, and a treatment suite that supports research and innovation studies.
An assessment suite (specifically for people needing a place of safety and assessment under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act).
A variety of internal activity areas and multiple outside garden spaces, specifically designed to enhance the environment and aid recovery.
It also provides assessment and treatment for adults and older people with mental health needs such as depression, schizophrenia, psychosis and dementia. The development is the first mental health facility in the country to operate completely on electricity.
Greater Manchester-born Ricky, a former world boxing champion, said: 'I am delighted and honoured to be at North View for this opening. It has been well-documented what mental health means to me over the years and to be able to give a little bit back.
'The main thing about mental health is people don't speak about it and even if you do, it must be very daunting to go to hospital, but this doesn't seem like a hospital, it's more like a five star hotel. It's fantastic. You've got a gym in there.
"Lovely bright colours, gardens where you can sit outside. If you've got a problem with mental health, this is the type of place you want to be to recover. It's fantastic for the city of Manchester to have this on their doorstep. Hopefully more cities up and down the country will have facilities like this soon too.'
The unit marks the first major step towards the total transformation of the sprawling, Victorian-era hospital in Crumpsall. In January, after more than five years of waiting for the go-ahead, hospital bosses finally got the confirmation from government that the rebuild will happen.
Funding between £1bn and £1.5bn for the complete overhaul of North Manchester General has been pledged by Health Secretary Wes Streeting. The £105.9m mental health facility was started in 2022 to replace the ageing Park House mental health unit on the Crumpsall site, and start the process of North Manchester General's total regeneration.
Park House saw people treated in mainly dormitory-style hospital accommodation with little outdoor space. The new North View mental health hospital promises to 'significantly improve' the experience for patients, including their privacy and dignity, said Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust (GMMH), in charge of the facility.
GMMH Chair, Tony Warne, said: 'This is a very proud moment as we welcome Ricky Hatton to officially open our award-winning North View in-patient mental health hospital – a facility that represents hope and healing for mental health here in Greater Manchester.
'North View is an important investment in Manchester's mental health services.
'Our ethos is community first which means treating people in their communities wherever possible. But to do that, we also need the very best inpatient facilities for those who need them.
'With the opening of North View, and its modern, state of the art facilities and accommodation we are affirming our commitment to those experiencing mental health challenges – and who need in-patient support – that they will receive the best possible care and respect they deserve.'
North View patients and staff, were joined by GMMH's Chief Executive Karen Howell, GMMH Chair, Tony Warne, the Leader of Manchester City Council Councillor Bev Craig, Manchester City Council CEO Tom Stannard, partners, contractors, local dignitaries, GMMH's services users and carers as well as members of the community as Ricky performed the honours.
One former patient and Peer Mentor at Park House, the building North View has replaced, Nicola, said: 'It has been an honour to be involved with the building of North View since the beginning and seeing issues addressed in how it has been designed and developed.
'I have first-hand experience, while being acutely unwell, of the many challenges and barriers patients faced in Park House - which was completely unfit for purpose, particularly the lack of privacy and dignity. I also faced extra challenges during my stay at Park House as I was in a wheelchair and the building was extremely inaccessible.'
'The positive impact of having a new purpose-built facility which gives all patients their own rooms, therapeutic spaces, and a safe welcoming environment that promotes privacy and dignity for people at their most vulnerable, will be far reaching - not just for patients but for their families, carers and staff.'
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