The recently completed mental health facility Whiteleaf Centre in Aylesbury opens its doors to mental health patients for the first time this week, as inpatients currently cared for at the Tindal Centre and the John Hampden Unit are transferred to new purpose-built wards.

Patients will benefit from significant improvements in the ward environment with bright social rooms, treatment rooms and bedrooms with en suite facilities. These have all been built to an exceptionally high standard with regard to patient safety, privacy and dignity. Artwork has been carefully integrated into the design throughout the centre to create a spacious, welcoming environment in support of patients’ wellbeing and recovery.

Over the past few weeks the centre has been prepared for the delivery of patient services with the arrival of furniture and equipment. Staff familiarisation and training events have also been taking place. Patient services will now be moving into the centre over the course of several days, with ward-based services for adults and older adults moving from Tuesday 24 February onwards. Community teams, outpatient and specialist services will move from Monday 3 March.

The Whiteleaf Centre creates new ways of working by bringing a number of services and teams together in the same facility for the first time. It has lots of flexible space so the trust can respond to the changing needs of patients and services in the future. In addition to inpatient wards, day hospital facilities and clinical space, there is a multi-faith room, an on-site café open to staff, patients and visitors, and a resource centre with large and small meeting rooms.