Newest Healthcare Facility in the NHS becomes operational

MOSSLEY Hill Mental Healthcare facility, the newest building in the NHS, has become operational and officially opened as a state of the art inpatient unit that ends dormitory style care for mental health patients in Liverpool. The 80 bed facility was built on the site of the old Mossley Hill Hospital and completed last month, since when final checks have taken place before patients moved into the £80 million site. It was partly funded from Public Dividend Capital (PDC) from the Department of Health.

Lyndsey Kelly, Deputy Director of Mersey Care's Mental Health Inpatients, said:-"Our staff have moved out of facilities which were no longer appropriate for our patients and with this new build we're giving people the space to recover and the opportunity to engage in meaningful and therapeutic group activities to aid their recovery. There is space to engage in activities, together with lots of therapy space beyond the wards for both patients and staff to use, including the purpose built gym space, fostering a sense of community within the building. There are also excellent facilities for our carers, families and young children when they visit the facility. The environment is designed to feel warm, welcoming and family orientated, and everyone will feel included in our community whether they work here, are visiting, or 1 of our patients.”

The benefits to patients at the new facility include:-

•  Single bedrooms with en suite bathrooms to promote privacy and dignity.
   

• Ward and facilities named to reflect the local community, culture and history.
   

•  4 single sex wards and a patient café.
   

•  Therapeutic light and airy environments that include activity areas.
   

•  Facilities that promote recovery such as:- family visiting and multi faith spaces.
   

•  Access to safe garden areas.

Dr Anna Richman, Mersey Care's Deputy Chief Medical Officer, added:- "This is a fantastic new facility. There are four single sex wards with en suite bedrooms which means no dormitory accommodation. When you walk around it, you realise what an amazing, light building it is which is going to be great for our staff and service users, knowing how important environment is to people's recovery and wellbeing.”

During the 30 month build, the construction leads worked with local schools and colleges, employed apprentices and 2 local under 18s on work experience, as well as investing in the local economy by employing firms from the nearby area.

The health facility's new ward names, which are mostly named after significant local people, are:-

•  Braddock Ward (Bessie Braddock, local politician and reformer)
   

• Wilkinson Ward (Kitty Wilkinson, public health pioneer)
   

•  Archer Ward (John Archer, 1st black Nayor in the UK, born locally)
   

•  Roscoe Ward (William Roscoe, anti slavery campaigner)
   

•  The Crawford Suite (named after the original landowner; where Police convey people to for a place of safety for mental health assessment)
   

•  Oasis Café (named after the former Hospital restaurant).

The build was also subject to extensive public engagement in 2016 and more recently sessions with:- service users, patients, carers and staff who decided on colour schemes, artwork and names for parts of the site.
 

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