The national fit-out and refurbishment specialist contractor has handed over the newly upgraded Larches Ward at St. Michael’s Hospital, on behalf of Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust. It is the final phase of a project to upgrade 5,853 sq m across six inpatient wards at the hospital, which began in 2022 with the anti-ligature refurbishment of Rosewood Terrace.

The contractor has since upgraded facilities at the hospital’s Hazelwood, Rowan, Ferndale and Willowvale wards, which provide age dependent mental healthcare services. All works were carried out in a live hospital environment and included the installation of new windows and internal doors, and adaptations to power, data and access control services. Willmott Dixon Interiors has also made improvements to lighting, ventilation grilles, radiator covers and sanitaryware. Flooring has been repaired, and all six buildings have been decorated throughout. The contract to refurbish St. Michael’s Hospital was awarded to Willmott Dixon Interiors via the Procurement Hub Major Project Framework and was delivered by a project team including Fulkers Bailey Russell and Design Buro.

It generated a social return on investment of almost £200,000 during the project lifecycle - equivalent to more than 19% of the total contract value - and met high sustainability standards with 99% of project waste diverted from landfill. Nabeel Javed, construction manager at Willmott Dixon Interiors, said: “At the heart of this refurbishment is a commitment by Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust to improve patient experience and keep vulnerable people safe from harm. “We’ve worked incredibly closely with the Trust over the last two years to ensure the successful delivery of each phase of the project. Our understanding of mental health estates has enabled us to create a modern environment that will support patient recovery.” Sonya Gardiner, chief operating officer at Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust, said: “Safety and comfort of our patients is paramount, so we understand how important it is to invest in the refurbishment of our hospitals. St Michael’s Hospital is one of our main mental health facilities and these improvements ensure we will continue to provide safe and therapeutic environments to support the recovery of our patients now and into the future.” Andrew Peck at Procurement Hub said: “This project demonstrates the improvement to quality of life for all involved with St Michael’s Hospital.

This is a great example of how Procurement Hub, working with Willmott Dixon Interiors, provides great benefits for the public sector. It is also a clear indicator that social value is at the heart of what Procurement Hub and Willmott Dixon Interiors always strive to deliver through this framework.” Willmott Dixon Interiors is currently working with Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust on the delivery of a separate refurbishment project at the Caludon Centre in Coventry. It includes remediation works, the replacement of fire doors and fire compartmentation line surveys.