A new short-stay inpatient model at Maple Ward
In August 2026 South West London and St Goerge’s will open a new ward. The new Maple Ward creates 18 additional adult acute inpatient beds, enabling us to bring patients currently cared for in external beds back into our own NHS services in South West London. Based within the Trinity Building at Springfield University Hospital, the ward will provide short-stay adult inpatient care, with patients receiving intensive support before returning to the community to continue their recovery.
When people experience a significant mental health crisis, there are times when a hospital admission is the safest and most appropriate way to provide care and support. At those times, we want every day in hospital to be focused on helping people recover, regain stability and return home as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.
As part of our acute care transformation programme, Maple Ward will be providing a short-stay psychiatric ward model, offering intensive assessment, treatment and discharge planning within a period that will generally be up to 28 days.
This model is designed for people who are likely to benefit from a focused inpatient admission, with clear treatment goals and support aimed at helping them move forward in their recovery journey. Patients may include those experiencing their first episode of serious mental illness, individuals who have become unwell following difficulties with medication, people requiring a period of intensive assessment and treatment, and those experiencing an acute mental health crisis that cannot be safely managed in the community.
From the point of admission, care will focus on identifying what support is needed to help the person recover and what may be required for a successful return home. Patients will benefit from:
- Rapid access to intensive multidisciplinary assessment and treatment.
- Regular senior clinical and multidisciplinary team reviews.
- Seven-day therapeutic input and support.
- Early planning for discharge and ongoing recovery.
- A coordinated approach to addressing issues that may otherwise delay a safe discharge.
A key feature of the model is the close partnership between Maple Ward and our Home Treatment Teams (HTT). For many people, this will help ensure a smoother transition from inpatient care back into the community, with continued support available at home when appropriate.
While many patients can achieve their treatment goals within a shorter admission, we recognise that recovery is different for everyone. Some people will require a longer period of inpatient care, rehabilitation, or more specialist support. Other inpatient services across the Trust will continue to provide care for people whose needs are best met through longer-term treatment or assessment.
The success of this model depends on strong collaboration between inpatient services, Home Treatment Teams, community mental health teams, liaison services, social care partners and other agencies involved in supporting people during and after a mental health crisis.
Our shared aim is simple: to provide the right care, in the right place, at the right time, ensuring that people receive effective treatment when they need hospital care and are supported to return safely to their homes, families and communities as soon as they are ready.
Thank you for your continued support as we introduce this important development in our acute mental health services.
Dr Katerina Miloseska-Reid,
Consultant Psychiatrist, Maple Ward
