Arrow ImageAcute, PICU and Rapid Response

Acute and PICU beds available - Thursday 28 March 2024

This Easter bank holiday weekend, if you need help placing a person in crisis our ACUTE and PICU teams are here 24 hours-a-day. 

Going in to the weekend here are the beds we have availabe:

Male ACUTE wards - 4 beds in Essex (No seclusion), 2 beds in Northampton (With seclusion)

Male PICU wards - 3 beds in Essex (With seclusion) 6 beds in Northampton (With seclusion)

Female PICU ward - 2 beds in Essex (With seclusion)

Neuro Rapid Response Service - This weekend we can also support you if you have someone with a progressive neurological condition like dementia or Huntington's disease who requires urgent stabilisation and intensive therapy in a safe environment. For help with a referral in to these services call 01604 616 000 and ask for Lowther Dementia Hub

In line with NAPICU guidance we are unable to accept patients in to our PICU services with a primary diagnosis of Personality Disorder. 

Neuro Rapid Response service - our Neuro team are on hand if you need help placing  a person with complex dementia, Huntington's disease or an Acquired Brain Injury. Click here for all the contact details

> Receive daily updates direct to your inbox. Email us at update@stah.org and ask to be added to our Daily PICU Update.

Our PICU and ACUTE wards at a glance

Our four male and female PICU wards and two male ACUTE wards are based centrally across Northampton and Essex offering 24/7 rapid assessment, intensive treatment and stabilisation for people with acute phases of mental illness who require emergency psychiatric care.

24/7 admissions service with decision within an hour of a referral.

Our team are expert in treating people with acute mental illness and complex needs, offering a range of group and individual therapeutic interventions to meet the patient’s needs at different stages of their recovery.

Included in the daily bed rate:

  • No admission fee
  • Assessment on admission
  • All medication included on the ward from admission.

Referrals accepted direct from Clinical Commissioning Groups and Foundation Trusts.

All our PICU wards are members of NAPICU, and adhere to the NAPICU minimum standards and their admissions criteria.

Our Neurobehavioural services offer Rapid Response referrals across our Acquired Brain Injury, dementia or Huntington's disease services.

Click here for our dedicated Neuro Rapid Response service page.

Male or Female Northampton (Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm)

Email: admissions@stah.org Telephone: 0800 434 6690

Male or Female Northampton (Out of office hours) - Please contact the relevant ward directly:

  • Tallis - Male Brain Injury - 01604 616497                       Elgar - Female Brain Injury - 01604 616301
  • Aspen - Male Dementia - 01604 616457                         Walton - Male Huntington's disease - 01604 616357
  • Cherry - Female Dementia / Huntington's disease - 01604 616659

 

How have you found our PICU referral to admission process?

As a charity working in partnership with others, we are continuously seeking feedback to improve the services we offer. If you have used our PICU services, please let us know your views, opinions, thoughts or ideas to help us continuously improve. Click here to share your feedback.

Live Acute and PICU Update

Updated: 10AM Thursday 28 March

2 Female Beds Available

Frinton PICU 2 Beds Available

Essex

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15 Male Beds Available

Audley PICU 3 Beds Available

Essex

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Bayley PICU 5 Beds Available

Northampton

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Benfleet ACUTE 4 Beds Available

Essex

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Heygate PICU 1 Bed Available

Northampton

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Naseby ACUTE 2 Beds Available

Northampton

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Martin experienced a mental health breakdown

Aged 38, Martin suffered a break down and was admitted into St Andrew's PICU in Essex, where he was treated for just over three months. His psychosis was precipitated by a relationship break-up, and his unpredictable and sometimes unsafe behaviour worried his family and friends. 

At the times of his admission, Martin admits he was angry and confused and this manifested itself in aggression towards staff and damaging property. Consistent medication and therapy helped him significantly improve and he was discharged just before Christmas 2022.

During his hospital stay, Martin said it was his children that gave him hope and inspired him to get better. Now, he is working full time at an airport and is an advocate and volunteer for St Andrew's, supporting at events and sharing his story.

Support for carers, family and friends

The therapeutic value of regular engagement with family and friends can be key to a person’s recovery and thankfully we are now able to welcome family and carers back on site.

  • We know that being a relative, carer or friend of someone who has been admitted onto one of our crisis service wards can be worrying and stressful and our Carers team is here to provide emotional support and help with issues such as health and money.  Our Carers Centre can be contacted on 01604 616125, and a support line is available Monday to Friday, visit our carers pages for more information.
  • For family visiting our Northampton site, St Andrew's are able to offer accommodation locally to aid your support of a loved on in our crisis services. Please discuss this with the ward to arrange.