SLaM launches virtual tours of Kent and Medway Adolescent Unit

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) has developed and launched online virtual tours of its Kent and Medway Adolescent Unit, based at Woodland House.

The multi-million pound, state-of-the-art centre in Staplehurst has meant that teenagers from Kent and Medway with severe mental health problems have access to NHS care within Kent itself, dramatically reducing the need to travel to London and further afield.

The Woodland House virtual tours are available on SLaM's public website, www.slam.nhs.uk, and allow prospective service users and their families to see what to expect before they attend the service. The tours show both the inside and outside of the centre including the grounds, the reception area, living area and bedrooms. The aim is to reassure young people about the environment they will be staying in.

The virtual tours are just one example of new features added to the SLaM website which re-launched at the start of July. The website has also introduced an interactive clinical map of SLaM services and a spotlight feature to help highlight important information.

The Kent and Medway Adolescent Unit at Woodland House provides intensive support for adolescents with complex mental health needs including specialist assessments and treatment and inpatient care in a crisis. Support for young people with mental health problems such as depression and eating disorders will be on hand 24 hours a day.   

Phil Kennedy, Assistant Director of Commissioning for Child Health at NHS West Kent said: "Woodland House is an excellent facility which is providing top quality help and support to the young people of Kent and Medway. The ability for young people and their families to see their potential new care setting before setting foot inside the building is a reassuring asset that this new, exciting virtual tour will make possible."

Paul Calaminus, Service Director for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services at SLaM, said: "The idea of visiting or staying in a strange, new place can be scary but the virtual tour will help to take the edge off the feeling of apprehension young people can experience before coming to Woodland House.

"The virtual tour is easy to access and navigate and will mean young people will come to Woodland House with a clear idea of what to expect. Our aim is to help them to recover from illness and get their lives back on track."

SLaM provides the widest range of mental health and substance misuse services in the UK and offers specialist services for people from across the country.