On Friday 20th September I attended an event to celebrate the construction of a new mental health inpatient unit for children and young people alongside many local NHS staff, like Consultant Psychiatrist Alvina Ali and Senior Matron Danica Izycki. 

The new center will have 15 beds with their own bathrooms, including 5 for those with eating disorders. I have had a lot of cases where young people have been sent miles away from home for treatment so I know how desperately this new facility is needed.

I will be meeting Angela Hillary, the new Chief Executive of Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, to discuss what more we need to do to improve mental health services in Leicester, including ensuring there are sufficient psychiatrists and mental health nurses – an issue that has been raised with me by a number of constituents.