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Going into the weekend we have male PICU beds available across both our Essex and Northampton sites; Audley has limited availability and is unable to offer seclusion for any admission. We also have female beds across both of our sites.
Our Acute male ward in Essex also has 2 beds available today.
Our Neurobehavioural Rapid Response service offering short-term stabilisation, admission and assessment for people with a brain injury or PNC has one male bed available today. To discuss a Rapid Response referral please scroll down this page for the specific contact details.
Our new short stay Acute male Admission Ward - Benfleet - is now open
Suitable for men over the age of 18 years who have been detained under the Mental Health Act and who are experiencing a relapse or crisis in their mental wellbeing. Benfleet will offer a safe environment where our expert MDT will work with people so they can be transferred to more appropriate settings or discharged at the earliest opportunity if they are well enough to return home.
To make an enquiry please telephone 01268 723 920
Our four male and female PICU 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, we aim to give you a decision on your referral within the hour.
Heygate ward – Male PICU N'ton Tel: 01604 616 111 Email: SAH.PICUMaleNorthampton@nhs.net
Bayley ward – Female PICU N'ton Tel: 01604 614 584 Email: SAH.PICUFemaleNorthampton@nhs.net
Audley ward – Male PICU Essex Tel: 01268 723 930 Email: SAH.PICUMaleEssex@nhs.net
Frinton ward – Female PICU Essex Tel: 01268 723 860 Email: SAH.PICUFemaleEssex@nhs.net
Rapid Response service - For acquired brain injury, complex dementia or Huntington's disease
Male or Female Northampton - Telephone: 0800 434 6690 Email: admissions@standrew.co.uk
New Covid-19 testing and isolation guidance for patients - 10/05/2022
There is now updated Covid-19 guidance for healthcare settings, which means there are some changes to the admissions and isolation processes affecting our patients:
1. New admissions will need to isolate and complete a lateral flow test. If negative, the patient can end isolation, but if positive the patient will remain in isolation, see below
2. Patients that have received a positive result can end their isolation before the 10 days if they have 2 consecutive negative LFT results 24 hours apart. This testing will be done from day 5.
Short term quarantining ensures the safety of all of our patients and staff.
How have you found our PICU referral to admission process? CLICK HERE to let us know
Our PICU ward teams offer an extensive multi-disciplinary approach in their care of our patients. Here some of the team come together to share what they think sets our service apart from many others.
‘Being flexible, having good levels of communication, meeting regularly and having good physical services, both inside and outside of the units, are real positives for St Andrew’s’ Dr Shubhinder Shergill
With male and female wards in Essex and Northampton our PICU service is for people who need more intensive levels of support and care. They may be at higher risk of being violent to other people and they may be a risk to themselves. We provide them with an environment that is quieter and very highly staffed.
From the moment someone comes through the door of our PICU services, we’re working towards their recovery, so they can move back to their community as quickly as possible.
‘When I got to St Andrew’s there was something that really blew me away in comparison to one of the places I’d worked before, it wasn’t as patient-led as it is here….knowing that the patient was at the centre of their care, that they had an opinion and a voice and that they were really heard by everyone involved’ Lynsey Harradence, OT Technical Instructor
To find out more about our PICU services and meet the team, watch our videos below
Our PICUs offer a short period of rapid assessment, intensive treatment and stabilisation for people with acute phases of mental illness who are in need of 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:
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.
As part of our Neurobehavioural services we also offer rapid assessment and admission for patients with an ABI or PNC whose behavioural presentation or cognitive function has deteriorated and who require urgent stabilisation and intensive therapy in a safe environment.
Our programmes deliver treatment to support a return to community once the crisis period has subsided, and also offers a service for patients requiring a more extensive care package.
Make a referral: 0800 434 6690
Download our Rapid Response service leaflet here (PDF link)
Male or female patients aged 18-65 years typically present with:
Click to download
SAH Acute and PICU Referral Form 2022 PICU brochure Rapid response flyerThe 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.