The £400 million nation-wide ‘dormitory elimination’ initiative is making progress in Worcestershire, as the programme strives to improve the quality of mental health wards in hospitals.
Holt Ward, the first new ward at Worcester Royal Hospital, was opened by Hereford and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust recently, marking the completion of the of the first phase of an £11 m scheme. Dr John Devapriam, the Trust’s Medical director, said: “We’re delighted to formally open the new Holt Ward today. The updated facilities will improve the therapeutic environment for our patients, enabling personalised care, and supporting their right to privacy and dignity while they are with us.”
The ward will accommodate adult acute inpatient adults who were previously being cared for on an adjacent ward during the project. Its new private en-suite bedrooms have replaced the ‘outdated’ shared sleeping quarters. Naomi Morgan, Acute Operational lead for Adult Mental Health Inpatient, Specialist Mental Health & Learning Disability Services, said: “The team can’t wait to welcome patients onto the ward. I have visited several times during building work, and to see it finished gives me an overwhelming sense of pride. The creation of private en-suite bedrooms will offer much improved privacy for our patients, which in turn support help them, reach their recovery goals quicker, helping to reduce their length of stay in hospital.”
The team will move on to the second phase of works following a decant period, focusing on Athelon Ward. Both wards form part of the existing Elgar Unit, and will provide a total of 30 new bedrooms.
Mark Hudgeon, Divisional director at construction company, Speller Metcalfe, which was appointed to undertake the works, said: “Our teams are committed to providing state-of-the-art facilities for healthcare and the NHS across the country. We are very proud to be making such an important contribution to the quality of care of those suffering with mental ill health receive in Worcester.”
The second phase of the project is set to complete later next year, and is designed to meet the BRREAM ‘Very Good’ sustainability standard, demonstrating the commitment the Trust and Speller Metcalfe has to the delivery of environmental best practice. Speller Metcalfe is ‘a leading regional contractor within the Midlands and South West regions’, and has a key focus on providing innovation and excellence in construction. The company said: “Established in 1995 by Steve Speller and Andy Metcalfe, we are proud of our family roots, which provide the foundation to the non-adversarial approach and teamwork ethos that run throughout the business. Our award-winning construction company has key experience in integrated project insurance (IPI), BREEAM, Passivhaus, and BIM, and has delivered some of the UK’s most innovative and sustainable projects.”
