IT HAS been caring for people with mental health problems for nearly a century – but St Ann’s Hospital in Poole is about to embark on a £33 million redevelopment to bring its facilities up to date.

Members of the public were given their first peek at the plans at an exhibition hosted by Dorset HealthCare NHS Trust, which runs mental health services for most of the county. Their views will be taken into account before a planning application is submitted to Poole council in the autumn.

The main aim is to bring accommodation at the hospital up to modern standards by creating quality single sex accommodation.

The oldest part of the hospital, which dates from 1910, will become an administrative and support services centre.

A single storey 1970s block, which currently intersects the listed building, is to be demolished, which will be replaced by a two-storey building on the western side of the site. It will share an entrance to the 1980s hospital building, linking to a new 12-bed ward on the ground floor and a 16-bed ward on the first floor.

The 1980s block itself will have four refurbished wards, and its dormitory accommodation is to be replaced by single bedrooms, with en-suite facilities where possible.

A new two-storey building with two 16-bed wards is also planned for the eastern part of the site. All new wards will contain single bedrooms with en-suite facilities, improved living and therapy space, and access to gardens and courtyards.

James Barton, director for adult mental health services at Dorset HealthCare Trust, said: “There will always be some people who require hospital care.

“We believe a significant number will recover to the extent that they will never need admission again.

“We will have lots of little units that are self-contained, so people will be admitted to a unit rather than to the hospital.

“It’s important in terms of recovery to keep things normal.

“If you go to a small unit, that’s as much like home as it can be.”

Service user Lisa Thomas said: “Updating the facilities will benefit service users and staff alike.”