A new £23 million mental health unit has officially opened in Poole, marking a significant milestone in efforts to improve care for residents across the region. Chaddesley House, located at St Ann’s Hospital in Canford Cliffs, Poole, officially opened on 11 May 2026, with patient admissions expected from the end of the month.
The facility is the first phase of a broader £70.6 million investment into mental health services in Dorset, supported by the New Hospital Programme. The project was delivered by Kier Construction following two years of work.
The new building features two specialist departments designed to provide 24-hour support. The first floor houses the 14-bed Chine Ward for female patients. The ground floor contains the Haven Ward, which provides a psychiatric intensive care unit with eight beds for men and five beds for women.
Matthew Bryant, the chief executive of Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust, attended the opening ceremony alongside NHP Strategy Director Darren Crook. The event was also attended by local members of parliament including Neil Duncan-Jordan of Poole, Tom Hayes of Bournemouth East, Lloyd Hatton of South Dorset, and Jessica Toale of Bournemouth West.
Further improvements are expected to continue across the county later this year. A separate £17.9 million unit designed for children and young people is set to open in Bournemouth this June.
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