Stepnell has commenced refurbishment work at Walton Hospital, Chesterfield, to create a dedicated ward for older adults with functional mental health issues in Derbyshire.
The £3.7 million refurbishment of Bluebell Ward, which was previously vacant, provides capacity for the relocation of patients from Pleasley Ward at the Hartington Unit on the Chesterfield Royal Hospital site, three miles across the town. Delivered via the Procure Partnerships Framework (PPF) for Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (DHCFT), the project will create a 12-bedroom older adult mental health facility with single en-suite rooms. Once the work is completed, functional and organic older adult services will be co-located in the same building.
Tom Sewell, Regional director at Stepnell, said: “The refurbishment of Bluebell Ward is our latest project for an NHS Foundation Trust, and we are proud of our long-standing reputation for delivering successful healthcare projects across the country using our local expertise. We are helping to enhance the offering of locally accessible specialist services as part of the NHS Long Term Plan.”
Tom Woolley, Key account manager for the east at Procure Partnerships Framework, added: “Procure Partnerships Framework is delighted to see work is underway on the refurbishment of Bluebell Ward for Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Our partners are experts in healthcare schemes, and have worked incredibly hard in the planning stages to ensure that the facility is set to become a welcoming, safe, and sustainable environment for the patients of Bluebell Ward. We are excited to see this scheme come to life, and the long-lasting benefit it will bring to the community of Chesterfield.”
Set to complete this July, the refurbishment adapts the existing structure of Bluebell Ward to achieve a fit-for-purpose design that follows the same building principles for new mental health units, completing under the Making Room for Dignity programme.
Stepnell is undertaking the works with multidisciplinary construction consultancy, EDGE. Charlotte Dennish, Cost manager at EDGE, said: “Our Healthcare specialist team is proud to be working alongside Stepnell to deliver an environment that promotes wellbeing and safety, improving the patient experience. EDGE is delighted to be delivering Bluebell Ward as part of the wider Making Room for Dignity programme, ensuring consistent quality standards and patient environments.
“By working with ex-service user, Nick Richards, on the project, we’ve been able to learn from his lived experience, and ensure that the space is optimised to support older adults with mental health challenges, while also providing a welcoming environment for all who will use the service.”
The project is part of the government’s Dormitory Eradication Programme, which DHCFT names the ‘Making Room for Dignity’ programme.
Andy Harrison, Senior responsible owner at the Trust, said: “We are delighted to have commenced the work to our refurbished ward at Walton Hospital for the older adults of Derbyshire who require inpatient support for functional mental health needs. Not only will the co-location with organic mental health services mean access to specialist older people clinicians, but also a safer ward environment with increased privacy and dignity.”