A new mental health service for children and young people, named in memory of health care support worker Joyce Parker, has been officially opened in Coventry by her family.
Cygnet Health Care’s newest Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), Cygnet Joyce Parker Hospital, will provide much needed mental health support for children and young people from the local area and beyond.
It was opened with great pride and emotion by Joyce’s husband, Darren Parker, who joined hospital staff at a special, socially distanced, ribbon cutting ceremony.
Speaking at the event, Darren Parker, of Tividale, West Midlands, said: “Joyce worked all her life, mostly as a support worker, and got on with everybody, she was brilliant at her job.
“When Cygnet asked me if they could name the hospital after her I beamed, cried and accepted. She loved all her children and grandchildren and we miss her terribly but we would like to thank Cygnet for this amazing recognition.”
Mr Parker was joined at the ceremony by other family members who also listened to Joyce’s colleague and friend, Pauline Blair-Manuel, sing Amazing Grace in tribute.
Speaking after her performance, Pauline, who is the receptionist at Cygnet Heathers in West Bromwich, said: “I was honoured to be invited to sing at the official opening and wouldn’t have missed the opportunity to join Joyce’s family, friends and colleagues to remember her. Joyce knew I was a gospel singer and had always wanted to hear me sing so I chose a song that I love and I could picture her face as I performed.”
Cygnet Joyce Parker Hospital will offer support to young people aged between 12 and 18 with mental health issues. Specialist health care teams will work in psychiatric intensive care and low secure environments with the aim of helping young people stabilise their condition and return home as soon as possible.
Joyce Parker, 61, died earlier this year. She worked at Cygnet Meadow Mews, a community residential service for men with neuropsychiatric or neurodegenerative conditions in Tipton, West Midlands.
Mermaid Ward, which will open in October, will provide a 10-bed CAMHS psychiatric intensive care service with a two-bed emergency place of safety suite for young people experiencing severe mental illness.
Young people will be able to continue their education through an on-site Ofsted registered school, Summit school.
Another ward, Dragon Ward, which opens in early 2021, will provide a low secure service for young people who may need a longer stay. It offers a care and treatment pathway for individuals who may have complex mental health issues and whose needs and risk are such they need to be supported in this environment.
