Cygnet Hospital Harrogate is a long-established mental health hospital that provides support and treatment for both NHS and privatelyfunded patients.
A recent decision to replace and upgrade the windows there led to the specification of specialist units from Crittall Fendor, specialist in high security fenestration. “We chose Crittall Fendor windows as they are recognised as the benchmark standard in patient safety,” said Cygnet director of Development and Facilities, Tom Wilson. “The industry is aware that the company’s CleanVent window is the best one; it ticks all the boxes.” Developed ‘as a response to the specific needs of clinicians working in secure mental health hospitals’, the CleanVent is designed to maintain security while being cleaned, and provides no projection to which a ligature can be fixed. The robust window is available in steel, aluminium, or a hybrid of both.
“In terms of the strength of the windows and the practicality of cleaning them, it leaves the competition standing,” said Tom Wilson.
For the Harrogate contract Crittall Fendor worked directly for Cygnet, removing the original windows and installing the new ones. Aluminium CleanVents were specified, except for for the front elevation, where taller, narrower steel-aluminium SwingVents were used. Tom Wilson explained: “These offer the same characteristics as the CleanVent, but the design is more flexible, and enabled us to meet the aesthetic requirements of the local planners.”