\n A planning application has been submitted to Worcester City Council for a new seclusion suite at the Elgar Unit of Worcestershire Royal Hospital.\n<\/p>\n
\n A seclusion suite is a specialised room, designed for the containment of patients which may be locked to prevent others from harm according to NHS England.\n<\/p>\n
\n A planning application, proposed by the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust to Worcester City council, would see a single-storey extension built at the western end of Worcester Royal Hospital’s Elgar Unit.\n<\/p>\n
\n The extension would add to the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) on Newtown Road.\n<\/p>\n
\n READ MORE: Home on city street could almost double in size<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n The new suite would provide two purpose-built seclusion rooms and an observation area, alongside associated mechanical and electrical plant.\n<\/p>\n \n A design and access statement supporting the application said: “As part of a recent trust-wide assessment, it was decided that a seclusion suite would be beneficial for the treatment of patients.\n<\/p>\n \n “The service would also be beneficial to the local area and the seclusion suite service would be offered to local institutions requiring it.”\n<\/p>\n \n The trust said the facility would help reduce the need to transfer patients off-site for seclusion, improving patient outcomes and reducing costs.\n<\/p>\n