Awarded under the Procure North West Framework, main contractor Seddon is currently delivering two projects for Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS foundation Trust, providing remodelling and refurbishment works at two mental health units in Macclesfield.
Lime Walk House and the Millbrook Unit provide specialist mental health treatment and assessment services for people in East Cheshire and beyond. The construction works are an important part of the Trust’s strategy to improve patient outcomes for those facing the most serious of mental health conditions and to ensure they can offer high quality patient environments which support recovery.
Appointed via a design and build contract, Seddon has worked with the Trust and the project team, including TACP Architects and Project Manager Square Zero, since April to help finalise the design and develop the construction plan.
The Trust has managed various stakeholder and service user engagement activities to ensure a ‘service led’ approach has been applied to both projects. The feedback from service users, carers and staff has been central to the design development. This approach has also been carried through to the construction phase and Seddon is working collaboratively with the Trust to support and facilitate further engagement activities whilst the works are on-going.
Lime Walk House
Historically, Lime Walk House has provided assessment and rehabilitation services for mental health patients in Macclesfield. Construction works will see the existing unit transformed into a new Mental Health Inpatient Unit for adults and older people with serious mental health conditions, providing 26 en-suite bedrooms across two wards.
The construction works include a new-build extension to maximise space available and to help achieve the overall design vision of a series of interlinked areas which form part of an open, sociable environment.
The new facilities will also feature a clinic, activity space, dining facilities, and support accommodation. Service users will also benefit from an improved external space.
The project had been designed to meet Acute Inpatient standards and to provide a welcoming and safe environment which will ultimately support individual care and recovery.
Millbrook House
The Older Persons Dementia Unit is located at the Millbrook Unit, part of Macclesfield General District Hospital.
To form the new specialised dementia unit, the existing Complex Assessment and Recovery Service (CARS) ward is being remodelled and a new ground floor extension is being built to provide 15 dementia beds, including an end of life suite and one intensive care bed.
The new facility will provide an Activities of Daily Living (ADL) kitchen area which will allow service users to practice important tasks relating to meal preparation and cooking, helping them to retain key skills and independence. The new facility will also include a multipurpose group room and a number of lounges and dining facilities. A courtyard and external spacewill be formed to provide important external space for the enjoyment of service users and to be used in support of their treatment and care.
The new unit has been designed to meet the University of Sterling best practice design guidance for dementia care buildings, ensuring the finished environment supports the needs of those living with dementia, keeping service users safe from dangers and allowing the freedom and confidence to use their abilities to the fullest extent.
The design has also been assessed using the Dementia Audit Tool, a highly-respected framework used to influence design decisions and shape the physical environment to counter the sensory, mobility or cognitive impairments which service users with dementia experience.
Robbie Blackhurst, Procure Partnerships Director commented on the projects: “The influence that environment can have on a patients treatment and recovery is well proven and we are delighted to be supporting these important projects which will provide high-quality, specialist facilities for mental health service users in Cheshire East and beyond.”
The 24 week programmes are running concurrently and Seddon has worked closely with the Trust and the project team to build efficiencies into the programme during the design development stage to help achieve the critical timescales of the Trust.
John Shannon, Director of Property Services at Seddon, said: “We have designed both of these construction programmes to meet the Trust’s complex requirements and minimise disruption. We are committed to creating places that improve the quality of life for people who access the invaluable support offered by the NHS. We can’t wait to see both developments come to fruition for the benefit of service users.”
Chris Tonge, Project Management Director at Square Zero said “We have worked with the Trust to ensure that we develop and deliver this scheme as a clinically led solution to the challenge of ensuring the ongoing provision of Mental Health services for the local community. The project will deliver innovative solutions to ensure that the wellbeing and therapeutic recovery of Service Users is at the heart of all decision making throughout the process. The Trust and the Project Team are passionate about ensuring that we push and challenge conventional solutions to create the optimal environment for the provision of clinical services.”
Work is currently progressing well at both sites the projects are due for completion by the end of November 2019.
Faye Dolan, an esteemed professional and Framework Director at Procure Partnerships, boasts a rich and diverse career spanning seven years in the construction industry. Faye’s journey within Procure Partnerships began in 2018 as a Key Account Manager, initially overseeing the North West region and later extending her purview to the entire North.
