Occasionally the best treatment for mental health issues may mean going into hospital, or being admitted. There are two main types of hospital care for people with mental health problems in Kent and Medway: acute admission wards and psychiatric intensive care units (PICUs). There is also the Trevor Gibbens unit which is a secure unit in Maidstone specifically for offenders with mental health problems.

• Acute Admission Wards
• East Kent
• Medway
• West Kent
• Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs)
• Being ‘sectioned’
• Managing Your Money While in Hospital

Before you are admitted to hospital, you will probably be seen by someone from a crisis resolution home treatment team. For more information on this click here.

Voluntary Admission to Hospital

In the majority of cases, patients will be admitted to psychiatric hospital on a voluntary basis. They have exactly the same rights as anyone going into hospital for any treatment, and they can leave whenever they want.

Acute Admission Wards

Acute admission wards are usually the first place a person would be treated if receiving hospital care for the first time. People admitted to an acute admission ward generally stay for a short while where they are assessed and receive initial treatment or support. Many people are discharged after a few days or weeks, whereas some people may be transferred to a psychiatric intensive care unit for more treatment.

In Kent and Medway, acute hospital care is provided by The Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT).

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East Kent

In Eastern and Coastal Kent there are two wards:

Anslem ward is part of St Martins Hospital in Canterbury 01227 812168.

Woodchurch Ward is part of the mental health support in Thanet 01843 234405.

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Medway

In Medway there are three wards:

• Sapphire - for female younger adults only 01634 833768
• Emerald - for male younger adults only 01634 833796
• Ruby Ward - Older adults mixed 01634 833765

These are all based at the Medway Maritime Hospital, for more information click here.

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West Kent

In West Kent there are four wards:

• Amber Ward - Women only 01322 622491
• Woodlands Ward 01322 622492

These are both based in Dartford at Littlebrook Hospital, for more information click here.

• Amherst ward
• Brocklehurst Ward

Both of these wards are based at Priority House in Maidstone 01622 725000.

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Psychiatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs)

The Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is another type of inpatient ward. People can be referred into the ward from the acute admissions ward, or may enter the ward from the community after being ‘sectioned’. A person is usually admitted to the PICU if they need further treatment or are behaving in a way which could be harmful to themselves or others. The PICU provides more intensive support than services provided in acute admissions and is more suitable for those who are unable to deal with open wards.

In Kent and Medway, psychiatric intensive care is provided by the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) at:

• Dudley Venables House
• St Martin’s Hospital in Canterbury 01227 812186
• Willow Suite at Little Brook Hospital in Dartford 01322 622222 Ext: 3792

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Being ‘Sectioned’

There are a lot of legal and ethical issues surrounding the treatment of people in hospital. The Mental Health Act of 1983 and the Mental Health Act of 2007 set out various legal rights that apply to people with severe mental health problems. They also contain the powers which, in extreme cases, allow some people with mental health problems to be compulsorily detained in a psychiatric hospital.

Both Mind and NHS Choices have very detailed information on being sectioned, please click on the links below to read more:

• Mind Guide to being Sectioned
• NHS Choices

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