Boxing legend Ricky Hatton MBE today led a knockout celebration for the official opening of a new state-of-the-art inpatient mental health hospital for Manchester.
Greater Manchester-born Ricky, a former world boxing champion, unveiled the commemorative plaque and praised the importance of the award-winning North View in providing quality care and a safe space for service users to heal and recover.
Ricky said: “I am delighted and honoured to be at North View for this opening. It has been well-documented what mental health means to me over the years and to be able to give a little bit back.
“The main thing about mental health is people don’t speak about it and even if you do, it must be very daunting to go to hospital, but this doesn’t seem like a hospital, it’s more like a five star hotel. It’s fantastic. You’ve got a gym in there. Lovely bright colours, gardens where you can sit outside. If you’ve got a problem with mental health, this is the type of place you want to be to recover. It’s fantastic for the city of Manchester to have this on their doorstep. Hopefully more cities up and down the country will have facilities like this soon too.”
Developed and run by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), North View – which is in Crumpsall on the North Manchester General Hospital site – offers state-of-the-art treatment environments, therapeutic support, and round-the-clock care in a purpose-built facility designed to promote dignity, privacy and well-being.
The hospital features modern patient accommodation, communal therapy spaces, and landscaped gardens to support holistic recovery.It is a purpose-built unit offering state-of-the-art facilities, where round-the-clock care and treatment can be provided in a therapeutic environment, designed to promote dignity, privacy and wellbeing.
GMMH Chair, Tony Warne, said: “This is a very proud moment as we welcome Ricky Hatton to officially open our award-winning North View in-patient mental health hospital – a facility that represents hope and healing for mental health here in Greater Manchester.
“North View is an important investment in Manchester’s mental health services.
“Our ethos is community first which means treating people in their communities wherever possible. But to do that, we also need the very best inpatient facilities for those who need them.
“With the opening of North View, and its modern, state of the art facilities and accommodation we are affirming our commitment to those experiencing mental health challenges – and who need in-patient support – that they will receive the best possible care and respect they deserve.”
