Mental health patients in east Kent will benefit from the very best care and treatment following the opening of a new 36-bed inpatient unit at St Martin’s Hospital in Canterbury.

A celebratory ceremony marked the formal opening of the new facility which has been built by Kier Construction and will be run by Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust.

The official opening was conducted by the Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Cllr Robert Waters, accompanied by the Lady Mayoress, Mrs Sally Pickersgill. Service users, carers, staff and members of the Trust board attended the ceremony and had the opportunity to tour the new wards.


The unit has 36 beds to accommodate people during their most vulnerable time, with a further 18 beds in the refurbished Anselm Ward on the same site. The beds in the new building are laid out in two wards and these can be used flexibly to provide different combinations of bed numbers on each ward if required.

All rooms are en suite and there are landscaped, secure gardens that will improve the quality of care, patient access and experience, as well as being more efficient and effective for care and treatment.

At the centre of the building's design is a predominance of natural light and open, airy spaces throughout, complemented by a variety of artwork on the theme of nature.

(CD/GK)