Taking the Better Bedroom to the next level

Matthew Balaam began his address by explaining that the Better Bedroom 1 is still operational within the Britplas factory showroom in Warrington, with new components continuing to be incorporated. In developing BB2, he said the same objectives set out for the first Better Bedroom had applied. He explained: “They are all important, but I am particularly passionate that ‘BB2’ should have a familiar, homely environment, incorporate the most upto- date technology, move debate forward on anti-ligature fixtures and fittings, and stimulate and encourage the development of better products.”

He told delegates: “At the IHEEM (Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management) Healthcare Estates 2014 conference, last October, we were all set for a refurbishment project within the headquarters of Sussex Partnership NHS FT, having undertaken our option appraisal and investigated eight different configurations, choosing to base the final layout on the ProCure21+ Functional and Organic bedrooms. Our plan was that our BB2 would sit opposite the P21+ bedroom in the Sussex Partnership’s Swandean unit in Worthing. The bedroom being showcased here in Solihull today still faithfully follows the configuration of the P21+ repeatable room, albeit with one change – the room is now 3,375 mm wide.”

Working with DIMHN chair, Jenny Gill, the project team had selected a panel of judges for a ‘Dragon’s Den-style’ interview process with the necessary breadth of mental health sector experience to ‘challenge’ the safety, security, privacy, and dignity aspects of the many products it was anticipated would be submitted for potential inclusion in the second Better Bedroom. Matthew Balaam said: “After our call for innovation last October, we had over 60 products to choose from, and, over a two-day interview process, selected the team of suppliers to move forward.”