New mental health facility opens in Irvine
The West Road Centre aims to change the way the residents of Ayrshire and Arran receive mental health care.
A new centre that aims to change the way the residents of Ayrshire and Arran receive mental health care has been officially opened by North Ayrshire Provost Anthea Dickson.
The West Road Centre in Irvine will act as a centre for outpatient services for the all-age Community Eating Disorder Service (CEDS) and the Neuro-CAMHS team (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service), providing a modern, bespoke space for individuals to receive the support they need.
The building, which is owned by North Ayrshire Council, was previously used by North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership's Children and Families Service.
It has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment to create a calm and welcoming environment designed specifically to suit the needs of clients and staff teams, with a treatment room, kitchen area, clinical rooms, and a sound-proof therapeutic room that can be used for activities such as music therapy.
Provost Dickson cut the ribbon at the official opening before guests from North Ayrshire Council, NHS Ayrshire & Arran and the three Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnerships - as well as members of the team involved in the redesign and construction work - enjoyed a tour of the centre to see what it has to offer.
Caroline Cameron, Director of North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said: "We are delighted to open the West Road Centre, which offers a purpose-designed space that will benefit individuals from across Ayrshire and Arran who are open to the Neuro-CAMHS and Community Eating Disorder services, many of whom would have previously been treated on a hospital outpatient basis.
"As the lead partnership for mental health in Ayrshire, this investment shows our commitment to improving the experiences of those using our mental health services, allowing us to provide crucial support in a community based, welcoming and familiar space."
Councillor Marie Burns, Leader of North Ayrshire Council, added: "We are proud to have been able to support the Health and Social Care Partnership with this fantastic project. This new centre will not only be of great benefit to those in our communities who use these services, but the re-purposing of the West Road building also helps to deliver on our ambition for council-owned premises to be utilised in the best possible way to deliver service improvements across the board."
After cutting the ribbon to officially open the centre, Provost Dickson said: "I was honoured to be involved in opening this fantastic new facility. The space has been very sympathetically designed to ensure it best meets the needs of clients, offering flexible spaces that can be used for a wide variety of treatments and activities.
"The more relaxed environment can only be a benefit to clients during what can be an already challenging time for them, with the space being refurbished to meet the needs of the children, young people and adults who might access services from West Road."
Councillor Margaret Johnson, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care at North Ayrshire Council, said: "Not only will the West Road Centre provide a better experience for clients, it will also be of benefit to staff teams, bringing them all together under one roof.
"With mental health teams across Ayrshire operating at full capacity, we look forward to continuing to work alongside our partners in NHS Ayrshire & Arran and the Health and Social Care Partnerships in South and East Ayrshire to provide efficient, high-quality mental health services for those who most need them."
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