New National Mental Health Facility for Young People to Open in Ayrshire

A new national mental health facility for young people is set to open in Ayrshire early next year.

Photo: NHSAAA

Work is nearing completion on the National Secure Adolescent Inpatient Service, Foxgrove, which is being built on the Ayrshire Central Hospital campus in Irvine.

Final works are being carried out by Kier, NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s construction partner, with the handover of the building expected in September. The facility is due to become operational and begin receiving patients by January 2026.

Foxgrove will provide inpatient care for children aged 12 to 18 who have complex difficulties and require a high level of support.

It will be the first medium secure adolescent inpatient service of its kind in Scotland. The purpose-built unit has been backed by national investment and aims to ensure young people can be treated closer to home while receiving appropriate care, therapies, education, and security.

Recruitment is currently under way for a range of roles, with vacancies listed on the NHS Scotland jobs website.

Caroline Cameron, Director of North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “We are delighted to be nearing the end of the construction phase at Foxgrove and working towards improving outcomes for young people with complex mental health needs.

“This much needed national facility will be of huge benefit to children from around the country who are seriously unwell. Currently, these patients are referred to secure adolescent mental health facilities in England or in adult inpatient settings, placing significant additional pressure and stress on the young people, as well as their families.

“This modern, purpose-designed facility will ensure that Scottish adolescents with challenging mental health illnesses can access the health care, education, and support services they need, while remaining closer to their support network of family and friends.

“We have recently hired a number of teaching staff to join our highly skilled team at Foxgrove, with recruitment under way for a variety of additional roles. This offers an ideal opportunity to join the team during this exciting phase of the facility’s development.”

Mental Wellbeing Minister Tom Arthur also welcomed progress, saying: “I’m very pleased that work is progressing to open a new national facility to support young people with some of the most challenging mental health issues.

“Whilst we have made welcome progress in meeting the national standard on waiting times for children and young people accessing mental health services this year, I am determined to do more to ensure high-quality services are in place to offer care in the right place, at the right time. This new facility will be an important step towards helping us do this.”