Publish date: 25 March 2026
A new specialist inpatient rehabilitation ward for women with complex mental health needs has opened in north west London. Melrose Ward, run by West London NHS Trust, is the first women-only service of its kind in the region.
Backed by a £2.49 million investment, the ward provides trauma-informed, gender sensitive care in a structured therapeutic environment. The service is designed for women who need supported rehabilitation, helping them develop independence, daily living skills and confidence as they prepare for a safe transition back into the community.
Its opening will also reduce the number of women sent for treatment far from home, helping people receive care closer to home and ease financial pressures associated with people being treated away from the borough they live.
Dr Catherine Penny, Clinical Director, said:
“Melrose Ward is an important development for women’s mental health care in north west London. Thanks to all those involved within our service and among many different partners in planning how the ward will operate and interface with other services and in getting it ready to open. We look forward to working with women with complex emotional needs and other complex mental health needs to help them recover and integrate or re-integrate into their local community.”
The Melrose Ward service will begin accepting admissions from 24 March.
