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Key information
- We accept detained and non-detained patients
- 15 male beds
- 15 total beds
- Over 18 years of age
- Male
- Over 18 years of age
- Enduring and progressive mental health disorders
- Acquired brain injury
- Alcohol-related dementia (korsakoff’s)
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Huntington’s disease
- Behaviours that challenge
- Dual diagnosis
- Forensic history
- Pick’s disease
- Vascular dementia
- Working-age dementia
- Cognitive impairment
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Overview
Forest Independent Hospital is a modern, purpose-built facility based in Mansfield. We provide treatment and care for patients who are informal, detained under the Mental Health Act, or require treatment and care under Deprivation of Safeguards. Our admission criteria for male covers a variety of organic mental health conditions.
Forest Independent Hospital provides a safe, homely environment in which our patients can achieve their maximum potential. We facilitate this through open and honest communications with the patient, their family/carer, and all healthcare professionals involved in their care.
We aim to stabilise patients' mental health and reduce identified risks and behaviours which many challenge. We take a least restrictive approach to all interventions and promote and encourage positive risk taking.
We hold community meetings, best interest meetings, ward rounds and daily clinical meetings to inform care pathways. We have input from a range of community services including Advocacy, Community Falls Team, SALT, physiotherapists and translators.
Our objective is to provide a premium caring experience which promotes positive and timely discharge to a less restrictive environment. We enable individuals to regain control and independence where possible, and ensure that not only the individual, but their families and friends, are supported through challenging times.
Following an individual assessment, support plans are formulated collaboratively with the individual, family/carer and all professionals involved in their care. We believe this collaborative approach promotes a positive experience and outcomes for the individual throughout their time at Forest Independent Hospital.
We would like to help reduce the growing pressures on NHS acute and low secure services: we currently have male adult beds available. For a wider conversation around capacity planning, or how we can support you and your patients at this current time, please contact Stella Bolger (Regional Director, Hospital Services) at stella.bolger@barchester.com or stella.bolger@nhs.net.
Our approach to care
Meaningful therapeutic activities
Meaningful therapeutic activities
Meaningful therapeutic activities are vital to mental health and improving well-being and form part of our patients treatment plans. Meaningful activities should should help support the person in acquiring further problem-solving skills, social skills and self care techniques. Therapeutic activities are facilitated by appropriately trained health care professionals.
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Staff
Hello. My Name is Laura and I am the Senior Hospital Director here at Forest Hospital. Welcome to our website.
My aim is to ensure patients, staff, families and visitors all feel they are in a caring, welcoming environment and being supported by every member of my team. I began my career as a Mental Health Nurse in 2005 and have worked within non-secure and secure hospital settings looking after a range of adults with mental health conditions and have gained experience and qualifications to progress to my current role.
I have been the Hospital Director at Forest Hospital since 2019. Barchester has a high standard of care and outcome measures delivered throughout the company, and I endeavour to deliver those same values in our hospital. I always enjoy spending time with patients and their families, and I am always available for a discussion about our hospital, staff, services and most importantly, our patients. Please continue to look down this page and meet our wonderful team.
Hello. My Name is Amanda and I am the Deputy Hospital Director here at Forest Hospital. I started working at Forest Hospital in 2021 and I love it here. The management and staff here work really well together and it means this is a brilliant hospital to work in.
I am privileged to be part of the management team, where we strive to make sure that each patient feels valued. I have been a Mental Health Nurse since 2005 and I bring a wealth of experience from rehabilitation settings supporting adults.
Hello. My name is Mica Dawson and I am the Administrator and Mental Health Act Co-Ordinator here at Forest Hospital. I started working at Forest Hospital in June 2024 and I really enjoy it here. I started as an Administrator and was promoted to both Administrator and Mental Health Act Co-Ordinator in 2025. I am privileged to be part of the team, where we strive to make sure that each patient feels listened too and that I will help wherever I possibly can.
Hello, my name is James and I am the Head Chef here at Forest Hospital. I pride myself on preparing high quality food, and seeing our patients enjoy the dishes that the team and myself create makes me very happy.
Our Hospitality team are committed to providing seasonal home cooked menus offering choice, nutrition and quality - including exciting menus to specific individual dietary needs and all appetites. The food we produce is hugely important to our patients which is why it is absolutely imperative that we always get their feedback and continuously meet the needs and nutritional quota of every single patient who resides at Forest Hospital.
Testimonials
Collaborations and partnerships
We hold community meetings, best interest meetings, ward rounds and daily clinical meetings to inform care pathways. We have input from a range of community services including Advocacy, Community Falls Team, SALT, physiotherapists and translators.
Following an individual assessment, support plans are formulated collaboratively with the individual, family/carer and all professionals involved in their care. We believe this collaborative approach promotes a positive experience and outcomes for the individual throughout their time at Forest Independent Hospital.
Get in touch
Southwell Road West, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG18 4XX
Visiting
We welcome visits from families and friends of our patients.
Make a referral
Patients are referred directly from an NHS Trust, CCG's, Community Mental Health Team's or Local Authorities. People referred to the hospital are offered a detailed pre-admission assessment to ensure they are suitable to our service and that we can provide the care and treatment to fully meet both their mental health and physical health needs. Following assessment and review of same by MDT the decision regarding admission and potential outcomes is made as quickly as possible. Both patients and their family members are encouraged to visit the hospital prior to admission.
Please complete the below form to make a referral