Safety is the number one focus for the island’s £7.2m new acute mental health unit.

Manannan Court will see the first patients transferred from Grianagh Court, the inpatient unit which it replaces, at the end of this month.

The new facility, which is on the Noble’s Hospital site, is larger and built to the latest standards.

Grianagh Court was built as an elderly and mental infirm unit in the 1990s and refurbished in 2003 for acute admissions.

Paul Hurst, clinical general manager, said: ’When it was built it was fine but in the last five to 10 years the standards have changed significantly. Many of the facilities are now out of date.

’We started planning this three and a half years ago. We’ve designed this building in line with the recommendations of NHS England for acute mental health admissions.

’We talked with staff and service users and came up with a list of things that were important - safety was number one, then security, privacy and dignity, access to natural light and outdoor space.’

Manannan Court increases bed numbers from 20 to 26 with two new suites - the Glen Suite which has 12 beds and the Harbour Suite which has 14.

There are a lot of high-spec features, explained Mr Hurst. The doors and windows are not standard and there is specialist furniture. The bedrooms are all en-suite with wet rooms. There are four garden areas.

’It’s not a secure unit but a unit that has excellent security,’ said Mr Hurst.

Patients from one ward at Grianagh Court move into Manannan Court on March 28 and then on April 14 the other ward is transferred. The acute team moves over on April 5 which is when the new facility goes fully operational.

Public tours take place tomorrow (Wednesday), with a number of places still available on a first come, first served basis. To book a place ring 642843.