ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
l An intelligent BMS control system. l Maximising natural daylighting to reduce daytime artificial lighting loads.
Robustness and longevity of components Given the need to take into account maintenance/lifespan, the design also had to deliver on the robustness and longevity of all components. This was addressed through full destruction mock-up testing pre-construction, as well as detailed supply chain working during RIBA 4. Service walkways in the roof space ensured nil impact during maintenance access, as well as keeping vulnerable service distribution routes hidden from patient areas below. Revenue impacts (staff costs/
absenteeism/retention etc.) were a driver in the ward typology design. Designing an efficient footprint, clear sightlines, and adaptive nursing spaces, helped improve work/time/risk efficiencies and facilitate good practice, in line with CQC guidelines. High-quality staff welfare areas were delivered as part of the core brief. By creating sensory designed/LD tailored therapeutic spaces that de-escalated service-users, violence and aggression on wards (SUIs) are reduced, and the need to use restrictive practices/medication lowers. The new building helps cement the
status and profile of the Maghull site as a national/international centre of excellence around mental health. In doing so it not only fulfils the Trust’s ambition to provide modern and progressive LD care, but also attracts income and future opportunities for the Health Park. The new facility was handed over in
November 2023, and has been operational for nearly 10 months. A full 12-month post- occupancy evaluation is still upcoming, but the six-month interim feedback has been very positive. Among the highlights of this are: l A smooth transition / commissioning and move in.
l Buy-in from staff / ‘ownership’. l Confidence in the environment. l Calm service-users / low incident rate. l Activity uptake good.
A rendered image of a bedroom at Water Meadow View. The project tapped into work done on the Co-Production CAMHS bedroom Collaboration Project (see also pages 11-15), undertaken alongside Kingsway, Britplas, Hygenius, Pineapple Contracts, Wallgate, and Altro.
l A positive rection to on-ward staff welfare areas.
l Both service-users and staff ‘embracing the landscape’.
l A healthy culture on the ward – with good relational links.
l An ‘open door feel’ on a forensic site. l Café space a favourite – ‘normalisation’. l ‘Environment being challenged, but handling everything’.
l ‘Model of care perfectly aligned with the design’.
The scheme has received numerous design awards, including Winner – Overall Clinicians Choice Award at the 2023 Building Better Healthcare Awards, Runner up/highly commended in the 2024 European Healthcare Design Awards (Best Mental Health Design category – International), and Winner – Co-production Service-user choice Award at the National Service Users Awards 2023.
Water Meadow View Water Meadow View is a new £32 m Specialist inpatient facility for service- users with Learning Disabilities/Autism on which work has just started on site north-
east of Preston. Located on the existing Guild Park, the new development is being constructed by IHP for Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, and is due for completion in Autumn 2025. Key illustrations/features of the design
include: l Site selection. Links to nature/green assets.
l Size/co-dependencies – a smaller unit, located adjacent to local amenities/ community.
l Ward size: fewer beds, for improved spatial quality/relational benefits.
l Larger bedroom sizes: responding to service-user feedback, allowing boundaries and interaction.
l Adoption of single occupancy flats/ living areas, reflecting the acuity range in LD.
l Design for neurodiversity/LD-specific approach a constant theme.
l Investment in new technology: sensory/ information walls, for interaction/ education.
l A balanced approach to risk/utilise POE (Probability of Execution).
l Investment/£ in quality architecture/ landscape as part of the business case. “Not just another MH unit’.
A visualisation of the dining and lounge area at Water Meadow View. THE NETWORK | NOVEMBER 2024
The selected site for the new unit presented logistical, environmental, and ecological challenges, but the natural setting and therapeutic qualities were immediately evident. Justifying a reduction in OBC beds (from 24 to 14), the Trust was able to re-invest the budget in more quality spaces, targeting improved positive clinical outcomes. Among the key elements to benefit were larger bedroom sizes, single occupancy studio flats, more dedicated activity spaces/communal areas and places of interaction, as well as meaningful staff welfare spaces, and a community accessible IST (Intensive support team) suite. From our earliest stakeholder/service- user engagement sessions, it was clear
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Courtesy of Gilling Dod Architects
Courtesy of Gilling Dod Architects
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