Public Consultation Initiated for £500m Mental Health and Brain Sciences Hub

The public is invited to provide feedback on proposals to transform Warneford Hospital, a Grade II listed mental health facility in Headington, Oxford, into a £500m hub for mental health and brain sciences. Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust has stated that the existing hospital is “no longer fit for purpose.” The plans for this new centre, to be named Warneford Park, encompass the construction of a new mental health hospital, a contemporary brain research facility, and a post-graduate college affiliated with the University of Oxford. Public exhibitions showcasing these plans are scheduled to occur from 5 to 7 December. Established in 1826, Warneford Hospital holds the distinction of being the longest-serving inpatient unit within the NHS. In 2016, the Care Quality Commission assessed the hospital’s wards, deeming them “outdated.” Last year, The Meadow Unit, a mental health facility dedicated to treating young individuals, commenced operations on the site. Its purpose is to enable children experiencing serious mental disorders to receive care closer to their homes. According to the trust, the exhibitions will be held at the hospital’s day centre. The specific times are Thursday 5 December from 1600-1900 GMT, Friday 6 December from 1300-1800, and Saturday 7 December from 1000-1300.