STIRLING Community Hospital is welcoming a number of additional services and improved facilities over the next few weeks.

The biggest change will see the transfer of mental health services from Kildean Hospital to a new unit which will be known as Livilands Resource Centre and will be based in the former Ward 30.

Housed within the Centre will be the Community Mental Health Team, Outpatient Psychiatry, the Area Wide Eating Disorder Service, the Mental Health Social Work Team and staff from Stirling Mental Health Resource Centre.

Following the transfer, the Kildean Hospital site which is no longer required for NHS use, will be sold.

Creating the new Livilands Resource Centre has involved total refurbishment of the former Ward 30. Care has been taken to create a light, bright and airy environment for patients and staff. Each service has a specific corridor and there are a variety of group and individual therapy rooms, ample parking and a more central location for patients.

Annette Gilmour, Clinical Nurse Manager, NHS Forth Valley, said: "This move is part of the bigger redesign work ongoing within Mental Health and is extremely positive. It will enable Community Mental Health Services to fully integrate with partner organisations who work closely with NHS Forth Valley to support the delivery of Mental Health Service." From February 17th 2013 Livilands Resource Centre can be contacted on 01786 446913.

Other changes have seen the former Ward 9 at Stirling opening up as a Rehabilitation Hub. The premises have had a major facelift and contain a range of outpatient and community based services including a team base for ReACH (the community rehabilitation teams for Stirling) orthotics, diabetes education, nutrition and dietetics, wheelchair services and a variety of other clinics.

This move has also offered an opportunity for the Social Work Reablement team and Hospital Social work team to co-locate with health colleagues on the Stirling Community Hospital Site.

In addition, the day hospital for older people has moved there from Orchard House, giving treatment and support for older people with mental illness.

Shiona Hogg, NHS Forth Valley's Allied Health Professions Manager for Rehabilitation, said: "The transformation of the former Ward 9 into a new Rehabilitation Hub has been absolutely amazing. Freshly painted corridors in pastel shades have made the whole area not only brighter but more patient friendly. People have commented on how pleasant it is in both the new waiting areas and treatment areas." The Rehab Hub can be accessed directly through automatic doors in car park c or through the main hospital entrance.