The Brook - Learning Disability and Autism Unit 

As a region, we are working to improve acute mental health care services for people with a learning disability and autistic people, bringing them closer to their family and friends. The long-term ambition in the South West remains to reduce inpatient admission, with people remaining at home or within their local community wherever possible.

However, on occasion, there will be individuals with a learning disability and autistic people where even with reasonable adjustments, the environment of a mainstream hospital would not provide optimal care and treatment. It is this group of people for whom the provision of individual, adaptable, inpatient facilities is being developed. For example, people with autism and hypersensitivity. It will also help to prevent out of area admissions.

NHS England South West has secured £40.5m capital investment to replace out of region inpatient beds with appropriate, acute mental health provision in region – the Learning Disability and Autism Bed Capacity Programme. Two capital developments have been approved in two locations which were considered best placed to deliver the beds – one in the north (Bristol – at Blackberry Hill Hospital) and one in the south (Devon – at Langdon Hospital in Dawlish), to provide close access for everyone living in the region. Beds can be used by anyone in the South West, regardless of location/patient origin and only people who would benefit from treatment in hospital will be admitted.

The Brook, a new 10-bed inpatient unit at Langdon Hospital will provide high-quality care in a therapeutically-enhanced environment, co-designed by users and carers with lived experience:

• Stunning location, with countryside walks and access to cycle/footpaths to the beach
• Gardens – private, sensory and activity-based
• Tree planting
• Outdoor recreational equipment
• Ensuite bedroom and living area
• Ease of access to outdoor space
• Designed to resemble a residential building

Dr Sonja Manton, Director of Strategy at Devon Partnership NHS Trust, said: “This is a hugely exciting development. We know that there are people with a learning disability, autistic people, or people with other vulnerabilities for whom, even with reasonable adjustments, the environment of a mainstream hospital cannot provide optimal care and treatment for their acute mental health needs. It is for these people that the provision of adaptable, inpatient mental health support is being developed – for example, people with autism and hypersensitivity. These specialist environments are in short supply in the south west, which is one of the main reasons that some people have had to get the care they need outside the region. 

“We welcome the significant investment in this new development locally and our goal is to continue to move away from an over-reliance on hospital care in all areas of our work.  This includes developing more and better community-based alternatives for supporting people with mental health needs and a learning disability or autism. However, where hospital care and treatment are the most clinically appropriate form of support, we want people to have access to local, high-quality care in a modern, therapeutic environment – with a focus on recovery and moving towards independent living.”