Image shows morning in our Northampton grounds

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. 

To make an enquiry or discuss a referral please contact our wards directly

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

Our current Covid-19 Testing and Quarantine Protocols for New admissions

Admissions from a healthcare setting

Where patients are admitted from a healthcare setting we ask the referring agency to confirm that the current ward has been Covid-19 free for the previous 10 days, with no symptomatic or positive patients within that setting. We will ask for a PCR test to be completed 48 hours prior to the agreed admission to St Andrew’s.

All admissions

This guidance applies to all admissions, transfers and patient/service user leave to general hospital or overnight leave.

• On admission all patients will receive a PCR test and remain in isolation until their result is received.
• Following a positive result patients will be quarantined for 14 days.
• If a patient receives a negative result and displays no symptoms, their isolation will end and they will be allowed onto the ward with close monitoring for 6 days.
• If a person’s PCR test result is negative but they displayed symptoms on admission they will remain in isolation until they have been symptom free for 48 hours.
• If a swab is refused, the patient will need to isolate for 10 days.

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

Meet our PICU multi-disciplinary team

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