The Duke of York unveils a plaque to open an adult outpatient service at Maudsley Health, Abu Dhabi
British Royal visit highlights growth in bilateral relations and strategic partnerships in healthcare sector between UK and UAE
HRH The Duke of York today officially opened an adult outpatient clinic at Maudsley Health Abu Dhabi, a leading provider of quality mental healthcare services. Maudsley Health is a joint venture between South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Macani Medical Centre in Abu Dhabi, and forms part of HRH’s visit to the UAE capital.
During the visit, The Duke of York learned about the progress Maudsley Health Abu Dhabi has made in offering treatment and care for patients, and support for families affected by mental health conditions, since the service opened in 2015.
His Royal Highness toured the service in the company of the Chair of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Roger Paffard and other senior dignitaries from the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD), Daman, Mubadala and the Department of Community Development.
The UAE and British governments have long enjoyed a good bilateral relationship, paving the way for continued strategic partnerships and opportunities for cooperation and trade, with the British Royal visit bearing testament to the significant growth in relations between the two nations.
The UAE government is steadfast in its efforts towards accelerating the development of a diversified economy, working with public and private sector entities to enhance the nation’s healthcare sector. Healthcare has been identified by the British Government as one of the key pillars of investment into the UAE, with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust forging ahead with the development of mental health services in the UAE. This was made possible by incorporating clinical expertise, research and knowledge-sharing opportunities in partnership with Abu Dhabi’s Macani Medical Center.
Commenting on The Duke of York’s visit to Maudsley Health, the British Ambassador to the UAE Philip Parham said: “I am delighted that His Royal Highness has been able to mark the latest UK contribution to strengthening health services in Abu Dhabi. Maudsley Health, like other UK operators, is making a real difference to the lives of families and the wider community in this region.”
Dr. Martin Baggaley, Chief Medical Officer at Maudsley Health, Abu Dhabi said in welcoming His Royal Highness to the service: “It is an honour for us to host HRH The Duke of York on this momentous occasion, which serves as an opportunity for us to showcase our commitment to raising awareness of, and leading the national discourse on the impact of mental health issues in communities across the UAE.
“Maudsley Health Abu Dhabi continues the proud tradition of the oldest psychiatric institution in the world by providing high quality treatment, research and training in mental health. We look forward to bringing forward more of our expertise as Maudsley Health expands its services and facilities beyond Abu Dhabi and the greater GCC region.”
Since Maudsley Health Abu Dhabi opened in 2015, the service has taken an active role in the local education and translational medicine landscape, fostering the development of collaborative efforts, providing quality mental health care and wellbeing in children, adolescents and support for families.
In 2017, Maudsley Health started providing an adult outpatient mental health clinic in the same building as its child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS), based in the capital’s Khalidiya area. Both clinics are staffed and led by experienced consultants who have recently trained or worked at the Maudsley, with patient care supported by visiting experts from the UK.
Maudsley Health Abu Dhabi is also leading the charge in raising awareness of ongoing research, available clinical supportive frameworks for patients and creating knowledge-sharing platforms for healthcare advocates and professionals in mental health. The organisation will host the Maudsley Health Annual Conference on 13 October, 2017 from 9:00am to 4:30pm at the Crowne Plaza, Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.
As the oldest psychiatric institution in the world and Europe’s leading psychiatric institution, with more than 700 years’ of experience, Maudsley Health is well known for services in child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS), adult services and training and education.
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About Maudsley Health, Abu Dhabi
Maudsley Health, Abu Dhabi is a joint venture between South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, home to the oldest psychiatric institution in the world, and Macani Medical Centre, an Abu Dhabi based organisation set up to bring the highest quality health care to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Maudsley Health, Abu Dhabi provides mental health services for children, young people and adults through comprehensive high quality assessments, using the most up-to-date appropriate tools, and effective, evidence-based interventions. The clinic is located in Abu Dhabi.
For more information about Maudsley Health and its annual health conference, please visit www.maudsleyhealth.com
About South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) provides the widest range of mental health and substance misuse services in the UK. SLaM treats people in south London and offers specialist services to people from across the country and internationally. For more information see www.slam.nhs.uk
South London and Maudsley is part of King’s Health Partners - a major collaboration between three successful NHS Foundation Trusts - Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley, and one of the world’s leading research universities, King’s College London.
© Press Release 2017
