Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is staging a public open day next Thursday (22 November) to look at future developments of rehabilitation services for people across the county with a long-term mental illness.

The day, being held at Yarborough Court off Long Leys Road in Lincoln, will give members of the public a chance to talk to Trust staff about the services they provide at nearby Carholme Court, as well as at Ashley House in Grantham and Maple Lodge in Boston, and how these are set to be improved.

There will also be an exhibition of plans, currently in the early stages, for developing a new purpose-built unit that is likely to be located in Lincoln.

The moves are in response to a review and public consultation in 2004 which found that Lincolnshire’s rehabilitation services needed to be modernised. In addition, in recent years it has been found that a number of Lincolnshire people are having to go out of the county to receive specialist treatment, and this is particularly the case for women.

Ann Dodd, the Trust’s team leader for rehabilitation services said: “We are planning a number of changes to overhaul mental health rehabilitation services, including providing women-only services.

“It is our aim to provide services for Lincolnshire people as close to their homes and families as possible, and this is particularly important with mental health services where social networks are vital in the rehabilitation process.

“We would like Lincolnshire residents to be able to find out about more about their local rehabilitation services and we really want to hear their views on our plans for the future.”

The event will run from 3pm to 8pm. Yarborough Court is at the back of the former St George’s Hospital site off Long Leys Road in Lincoln.