Inpatient services:
There are six wards for Acute assessment and treatment for functional disorders within the Royal Edinburgh Hospital:
- Balcarres – this is a 16 bedded male only ward in the north of Edinburgh
- Craiglockhart – this is a 16 bedded female only ward in the north of Edinburgh
- Merchiston – this is a 16 bedded male only ward in the south of Edinburgh
- Meadows – this is a 16 bedded female only ward in the south of Edinburgh
- Hermitage – this is a 16 bedded mixed gender ward that covers East and Midlothian
- Blackford (IPCU) – this is a 10 bedded mixed gender ward that covers all of Edinburgh, East and Midlothian
Each of these wards provides a safe environment for the 24/7 care and treatment for people predominantly aged eighteen and over with acute mental illness and distress.
In addition, Blackford ward is a 10 bedded mixed gender Intensive Psychiatric Care Unit, providing a low secure care setting for patients with severe acute, mental disorder/distress.
Working in any of these wards equips staff with a wide range of skills including clinical risk assessment, care planning, therapeutic engagement, de-escalation and management of violence and aggression, team working and mentoring junior staff.
We also have a Senior Charge Nurse for Quality Improvement and a Clinical Nurse Specialist for Self Harm to support different initiatives in patient centred care.
