EXCITING images from Irvine’s new Foxgrove Secure Unit were unveiled last week with work to start in Spring on the facility for children and young people across the country.

We reported last month that the name had been chosen for the new national secure unit for youngsters aged 12-17 being built next to Irvine’s Woodland View facility at Ayrshire Centreal Hospital.

The name Foxgrove was approved by North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership’s Integration Joint Board last year after list of four were shortlisted with the help of the projects Public Reference Group and the Irvine Youth Forum.

The choices were: Aspen, Carduus, Foxgrove and Parkland View – with Foxgrove receiving the most votes by the public.

The new 12-bed National Secure Adolescent Inpatient Service facility will admit youngsters with a range of complex mental health difficulties and risk, which cannot be managed within other mental health services in Scotland.

The purpose built facility in Irvine means that children across Scotland will be cared for nearer to home and will receive appropriate care, treatment, therapies, security and on-going education.

Director of North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, Caroline Cameron said: “We are delighted to have a name for our new facility – Foxgrove.

“It was the clear winner in the vote last year and it was very pleasing to see such a good level of engagement on choosing a name, especially from young people themselves.

“We very much look forward now to progressing the Full Business Case for Foxgrove and are aiming to begin work on site in late Spring this year.”

Anyone who wants to find out more information about Foxgrove can visit www.nhsaaa.net/hospitals/foxgrove/ where there are details on the aims and timescale of the new national facility.

You can also find out how to join the Public Reference Group, which meets regularly to discuss the ongoing project.

To get a better idea of how Foxgrove will look when it is built and welcomes patients, you can also view an artist’s impression at www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue

=143&v=pzDpMYo_NhA&feature=emb_title