Grangewood: New mental health crisis unit opens in Londonderry 17 December 2013 Last updated at 06:18 A new, purpose-built mental health "crisis unit" in Londonderry is to be officially opened by Health Minister Edwin Poots later on Tuesday. Grangewood is has been built at a cost of £10.8m at Clooney Road in the city. The new unit will provide acute mental health care for in-patients. It has 30 ensuite bedrooms, six of which are psychiatric intensive care beds. The Department of Health said it would also provide a 24-hour "crisis response and home treatment service." Grangewood has been built close to the Gransha Hospital, which dates back to the 1960s, and replaces the services provided by the older facility. Modernise The new unit has been operational since November 2012, but the service is set to be officially launched by the health minister on Tuesday. Speaking ahead of the event, Mr Poots said: "This is a significant and welcome investment in modern mental health services for the people in the north west. As community services are being developed, it is important to modernise and adapt mental health facilities in parallel with community services. These new community services will not only reduce the need for hospital admissions but will allow, in many cases, earlier discharge from hospital for those who will still need to be admitted reducing the length of stays in hospital. Sanctuary "This new Grangewood unit will provide more comfort and dignity to in-patients and will help the recovery process," Mr Poots added. The new facility is operated by the Western Health Trust. The trust's chairman, Gerard Guckian, said the old Gransha admission wards were "no longer fit for purpose." "This marvellous new facility is one of the most unique, modern and patient centred facilities now available in Northern Ireland," he said. It will provide mental health services for those individuals in crisis and act as a sanctuary conducive to recovery and improvement in mental health and well-being.