Government investment in eradicating dormitory-style wards continues
Work is continuing across England to eradicate dormitory-style wards from mental health units.
As part of a £400m government fund, a number of hospitals and community psychiatric units are being redeveloped to create single en-suite patient bedrooms.
And the latest to be completed is Holt Ward at Worcester Royal Hospital, which houses adults experiencing acute mental illness.
After being cared for on an adjacent ward for the past 12 months, service users have now moved into new private bedrooms.
The project is part of a wider £11m investment by Hereford and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust in updating mental health wards at the hospital.
Dr John Devapriam, the trust’s medical director, said: “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.”
Naomi Morgan, acute operational lead for adult mental health inpatient, specialist mental health, and learning disability services, added: “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, will support them to reach their recovery goals quicker, helping to reduce their length of stay in hospital.”
The team will now 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.
The building work was carried out by Speller Metcalfe. Divisional director, Mark Hudgeon, said: “Our teams are committed to providing state-of-the-art facilities for healthcare and the NHS across the country.
“We are pleased to be handing over the first ward at this location and are ready to move forwards towards project completion.”
The second phase of the project is set to complete later next year and is designed to meet the BREEAM ‘Very Good’ sustainability standard.
