More than £400m will be spent over the next four years eradicating outdated dormitory accommodation from mental health facilities across the country. The pledge by the Government was announced last month to coincide with World Mental Health Day and builds on the £250m funding announced in July to update psychiatric units as part of a record investment in NHS infrastructure.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock, also announced the first wave of NHS trusts that will receive the funding to replace dormitories with single en suiterooms. They include Meadow View in Devon, Kentmere Ward at Westmorland General Hospital, Scarisbrick Ward at Ormskirk & District General Hospital, Alder Hey Hospital in the Park, and Basildon Hospital Mental Health Unit.

The eradication of dormitories will improve the individual care that can be given to patients, helping to reduce their length of their stay. It will also have benefits for patient safety, including through better infection control and by reducing the risk of incidents involving patients or staff.

Announcing the funding, Hancock said:“Mental health staff have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to keep mental health services open 24/7 so those most inneed can continue to get vital support.“Today I am reiterating our commitmentto those patients by stepping up our effort toimprove our country’s mental health infrastructure.“By eradicating outdated and unsuitable dormitories across England we can ensure those suffering with mental illness are giventhe safety, privacy and dignity they deserve.“Not only will the new single rooms improve the individual care we can offer patients, but they will provide a better environment for our hardworking staff too.”The announcement has been welcomed by medics, with Dr Adrian James, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, telling hdm: “Replacing dormitories with single ensuite rooms is a positive step towards the much-needed upgrading of mental healthwards – even more urgent in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and a second wave.“With this funding, the Government is taking decisive action to properly support people living with a mental illness and we hope that the necessary investment in other areas of the mental health estate will follow in the upcoming spending review.”