PLANS for a new psychiatric care unit for children and young people are set to go on show to the public on Monday.

Dorset HealthCare is inviting residents to view proposals for the new building on its Alumhurst Road site in Bournemouth at an engagement event.

Running from 4.30 to 7.30pm on Monday, September 5, the session is aiming to seek feedback on the trust’s plans ahead of the submission of a planning application to BCP Council.

The Government-funded development would form part of area’s child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and mean that seriously ill young people could be cared for locally instead of being sent for specialist treatment elsewhere – potentially hundreds of miles from family and friends.

Residents will have the chance to view and discuss the plans with experts during the drop-in session. Dorset HealthCare will be collating comments on the proposals and will seek to accommodate these within the design where possible.

Hundreds of leaflets have been delivered to households in nearby roads to encourage attendance, to not only see the plans but also hear first-hand from those helping to deliver the scheme. There will be the chance to talk with the architects, developers, patient representatives, clinical representatives and the project management team.

Kristin Dominy, Dorset HealthCare chief operating officer and deputy chief, said: “Demand for mental health support among young people is growing and the new PICU would be a major step forward for local services – benefiting not only young people with serious mental health problems but also their families in the Dorset area.

“This is an excellent opportunity for local residents to view and influence the designs, and to provide feedback before we move forward with our planning application. We would love to see as many people as possible there.”

At the event, members of the public will also be invited to consider possible names for the new building. All are welcome to attend at 49 Alumhurst Road.

For those unable to attend, a dedicated web page is being launched at dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk on 6 September, featuring all information to be shared at the event.