A new mental health facility for the people of North Yorkshire has opened its doors.
Hummingbird House is the new community base for child and adolescent mental health services, adult mental health and North Yorkshire Talking Therapies in Harrogate.
Hummingbird House
31-33 Victoria Avenue
Harrogate
North Yorkshire
HG1 5QE
Capital design officer Chris Parker, of Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust:
It has taken a lot of planning, co-ordination and support from all involved to get us to where we are now.
I feel a great sense of pride at what’s been created. I hope it will be a fantastic base for our Harrogate services, and a great environment for those who use it.
Work on transforming a former office block in Victoria Road, Harrogate, into the new base for the Trust began back in April.
Staff have been moving into the venue over the past few weeks and the facility is now fully operational. An official opening is to be held in December.
James Walton, service manager of North Yorkshire Talking Therapies, said:
We are really excited about the move to Hummingbird House.
We hope it will be easier for patients to get to us by public transport, and we’re looking forward to creating a nicer working environment for our hard-working staff.
TEWV has invested £2.1million into creating the pioneering new community mental health facility.
Patients and carers have worked with staff in the Trust’s adult and children community teams across Harrogate to co-create the design of the new base.
Trust involvement member Hazel Griffiths, a local carer, has been part of the planning process from the start – and is delighted with the final outcome.
Hazel Griffiths said:
We’ve worked hard to ensure local lived experience and carers voices have been sought to help create an environment that feels welcoming for all.
This is not just a building, but a place offering hope, healing and person-centred support, where people experiencing mental health challenges can talk openly.
The Trust’s community teams in Harrogate were originally split across three sites – Windsor House, Dragon Parade and Jennyfield Health Centre.
All are now based at Hummingbird House, which has been equipped with modern facilities to help create a pleasant and relaxing environment for staff and patients.
Lee Bradley, interim service manager of Harrogate, Hambleton and Richmondshire adult mental health services, said:
We are confident the move will bring many benefits for staff, service users and carers. We are all really looking forward to this next chapter and the opportunities it will bring.
The interior design should enable us to deliver our services in an accessible and purpose-built space that better meets the needs of those that require our support.
The revamp has included stripping out the three-storey building and redesigning it through external improvement work and major internal refurbishment.
New clinics and waiting areas, which were designed following feedback and suggestions from staff, patients, and carers, have also been created.
Gillian Gentle, team manager of CAMHS, added:
The new building has fresh décor and a light bright feel, with rooms which have adapted lighting for patients and staff.
We hope that having both CAMHS and adult services in the same building will help make transitions for young people into adult services much better.
