Local legend Ricky Hatton MBE opened a new mental health building at a Manchester hospital today (Friday 21 March)

The former boxing world champion - who was born in Stockport - spoke on the importance of good mental health while officially opening the North View building at North Manchester Hospital.

"The main thing about mental health is people don't often speak about it", he said.

"I think it's well-documented that mental health is very important. To find out we here in Manchester have a place like this where people can come to get themselves better is fantastic."

The North View is a new state-of-the-art inpatient mental health hospital for Manchester. Having been operational since November, it had its official opening ceremony today, during which Hatton unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion.

Ricky Hatton unveiled a plaque to commemorate the official opening of North View (Image - Nub News)

Developed and run by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), it offers state-of-the-art accommodation and treatment. With private patient accommodation, communal therapy spaces, landscaped gardens, North View is carefully designed to promote dignity, privacy and well-being.

"This doesn't seem like a hospital, it's more like a five star hotel", Hatton added. "It's fantastic. You've got a gym in there. Lovely bright colours, gardens where you can sit outside.

"If you've got a problem with mental health, this is the type of place you want to be to recover. It's fantastic for the city of Manchester to have this on their doorstep. Hopefully more cities up and down the country will have facilities like this soon too.

"As a Mancunian - for everyone in the Manchester community to have this on your doorstep I think is a blessing.

"More and more people are now coming out and speaking about mental health. As this is a growing problem, the hospital has spotted that and done something about it. I think it's wonderful."

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Afshan Khawaja is also pleased with the new building.

A drone view of North View (Image - Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust)

"The best thing has been for the patients", Dr Khawaja said. "They've really loved it - they've said it's like a hotel. It's just so different from what they're used to - they've come from dormitories where they've been sharing with three other people.

"The environment will be much better for our patients, and it is already helping the number of incidents go down."

Service user Sam Reed, who helped shape the building with her input in the North View Reference Group, was similarly enthused.

"I think it's absolutely brilliant", she said. "It's such a massive difference from what it was before, and it'll make a huge difference for the patients.

"Although it's a hospital, it doesn't feel like one. It feels much more warm and homely.

"Patients have space to walk about and their own rooms in which whey can have their own space."

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