Firm unveils its new care centre

The Priory Group has set up an open rehabilitation service where adults with mental health problems can get treatment.

The centre in York Road, Earlsheaton, was unveiled at a ceremony on Tuesday and has two wards named by pupils from Earlsheaton Technology College.

The Priory Group approached the school which ran a competition asking pupils to suggest names for the two wards.

Overwhelmingly, pupils voted to name one of the hospital wards after former student and fallen soldier Cpl Jake Hartley.

After the Hartley Ward, the second most popular suggestion was the Jubilee Ward in honour of this year’s celebrations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The Priory Hospital Dewsbury will have 32 beds for people aged over 18 and will run alongside psychiatric intensive care and low secure mental health services on offer elsewhere in Yorkshire.

Priory Group chief operating officer Matthew Franzidis said: “This new service in Dewsbury will predominantly provide a step down service from low secure services and step up from slow stream rehabilitation.”

He said the purpose of the new centre was to provide comprehensive treatment for people with moderate to severe mental health issues.