New dementia care unit is approved at Walsall hospital
A new dementia care facility will be built on the site of a Walsall mental health hospital after planners approved proposals for the project.
Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust wants will demolish a disused renal unit at Dorothy Pattison Hospital, on Alumwell Close, and replace it with the new care building.
The new facility will feature a 10-bed dementia ward as well as a 15-bed older persons ward, therapy and living spaces which the trust hopes will provide a ‘homely feel’ for patients.
Existing services at Bloxwich Hospital, which health bosses say are currently under-used, will relocate to the new facility.
In their application, the trust said said: “Bloxwich hospital was designed to provide a maternity service and was attached to an existing old building.
“The hospital is currently occupied by an older person and dementia wards.
“The building has high maintenance and redecoration costs with low occupancy rates due, in part, to a restrictive covenant on the older part of the
building.
“The NHS Trust has been through an options appraisal. The conclusion of this process is to relocate the two wards located at Bloxwich Hospital to the Dorothy Pattison Hospital site.
“NHS England / NHS Improvement have provided supporting role ensuring
accountability, responsibility and best practice Is applied to the project.
“This has included reviewing all vacant land and estate requirements to ensure the best outcome.”
It added: “The overall requirement for the new development is to provide a
therapeutic environment; the characteristics of which are that patients should be admitted to the ward for the shortest possible time and treated in a way which creates the least disruption to their lives with access to the most appropriate medication and treatment programmes.
“It is recognised that being admitted to hospital can, at times, be a frightening and daunting experience, so the Trust is aiming to create a welcoming and reassuring environment.
“The spaces within the development should be flexible to allow patients to engage in group and individual activities and at all-times ensure the patients privacy and dignity.
“The flexibility should also ensure that changes in models of care can be achieved without the need for recourse to refurbishment of existing spaces.
“The design of each ward and the shared area should provide patients with informal spaces to sit and talk with staff.
“There will also be dedicated private rooms such as counselling rooms to allow
discussion with patients who wish to speak with staff in a more private environment.
“The Trust wish the general atmosphere of the wards to be light and with a ‘homely’ feel.”
