MK centre praised for mental health care

The Campbell Centre, based at Milton Keynes Hospital, is a 38-bed acute inpatient mental health unit treating adults with serious mental illnesses including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

The centre had previously been issued with a warning notice in April 2014 by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following concerns over the care and welfare of patients.

It was later lifted in October that year following an unannounced inspection by the CQC who found “significant improvements”.

This week, Iain Stewart MP for Milton Keynes South visited both the male and female wards on the unit - and praised the centre for turning it all around.

The MP said: “I’ve been very impressed by the facilities at the Campbell Centre and the dedication of all the staff here. The Campbell Centre has had difficulties in the past, but both in the physical environment and the quality of care they’ve been enormous improvements.

“It’s very encouraging to see a very dedicated and caring team here.

“As a country we need to do much more in addressing mental health issues and I’m very pleased that there’s a number of initiatives here at the Campbell Centre that are setting the agenda nationally that others might be able to follow.”

Mr Stewart also looked around the unit’s Section 136 Suite - an area where people detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act, who are in a mental health crisis, are assessed.

Claire Murdoch, chief executive of CNWL NHS Foundation Trust said: “I was really pleased to welcome Iain Stewart MP to the Campbell Centre.

“We have some fantastic staff here who’ve really turned things around and patients are telling us they like the improvements, that’s great but I am also so pleased for the staff to see their hard work recognised.”