Services at Southern Hill Hospital
We offer services for the treatment of mental and emotional disorders through the provision of medical, psychological and nursing interventions supported by other members of the multi-disciplinary team which are designed to encourage communication of conflicts and insight into problems, with the goal being relief of symptoms, changes in behaviour leading to improved social and vocational functioning and personal growth.
Our services are provided across five wards dedicated to the care and treatment of acute mental illness delivering support for people who are experiencing a new episode or an acute exacerbation of an existing condition where there is often a corresponding increase in risk to themselves, which requires their safe, therapeutic management and treatment in an acute inpatient ward setting.
Acute Inpatient Mental Health Care
At Southern Hill Hospital, our Acute Inpatient Mental Health Service is grounded in a personalised approach that values individual needs, preferences, and aspirations. Our experienced multi-disciplinary team provides medical, psychological, and nursing interventions, ensuring a holistic approach to treatment.
Continuous communication with the patient's community mental health team and chosen carers ensures a coordinated and supportive approach to discharge. Our aim is to provide a clear purpose for each admission, supported by daily therapeutic activities, interventions, and treatments. This approach empowers individuals to regain control and order in their lives, fostering a sense of stability.
Our Acute Inpatient Mental Health care can support people who are detained under the Mental Health Act, or who are admitted to hospital informally. People may access our acute service as a direct admission from hospital bed managers, community mental health services or via a Section 136 suite, providing a seamless transition of care.
We can support men and women experiencing difficulties due to a range of conditions including bipolar disorder, psychosis, depression, personality disorder and self-harm.
Admission Criteria:
Men and Women with a mental health condition, pre-existing or new diagnosis
18 years and over, working age or older adults
May be detained under the Mental Health Act or admitted as an informal patient
Our service specialises in the assessment and treatment of people with acute and enduring mental health needs. We provide care and treatment to people who are experiencing an acute phase of a mental illness and who are often in crisis. The aim of the service is to stabilise the person as quickly as possible, assess for further needs and implement the care and treatment required. We will stay in close contact with the patient’s community mental health team throughout each admission and as soon as it is safe to do so we will arrange a suitable discharge home under the care of community mental health teams or into other appropriate community settings.
Tailored Care:
Our experience of supporting people with a range of complex needs alongside co-existing issues such as dual diagnosis positions our service expertly for the delivery of acute mental health care.
Some service users may present with a higher level of dependency, and admission will be made to the most suitable ward based on individual needs. Our individual packages of care for all patients including those presenting with higher levels of dependency focus on:
Trauma-informed care: Our team is trained to provide care that acknowledges and addresses the impact of trauma on mental health. This approach fosters a supportive environment for individuals on their path to recovery.
Out-of-hours rapid admission for emergency: Recognising that emergencies can happen at any time, we offer round-the-clock rapid admission to address urgent mental health needs promptly.
Promoting self-management and recovery: Empowering individuals to actively participate in their recovery journey is a core aspect of our care. We focus on strategies that promote self-management and support sustained recovery.
An initial physical health screen and management: As part of our comprehensive approach, each patient undergoes an initial physical health screen. This ensures that both mental and physical health aspects are considered in their care plan, reinforcing our commitment to holistic well-being.