Excellence in the design of psychiatric care environments was recognised last week at the 2016 Design in Mental Health Awards.
A total of seven gongs were presented following an awards dinner fronted by celebrity host, former world champion boxer, Frank Bruno MBE.
Clock View Hospital in Walton, Liverpool, picked up the Service User Experience Award. It also won Beatrice Fraenkel, chairman of Mersey Care NHS Trust, the Design Champion Award and it picked up the Award for Healthy Outdoor Lifestyle.
Designed by Medical Architecture, the hospital marks the first stage of Mersey Care NHS Trust’s plan to enhance mental health services in the area.
Built on the site of Walton Hospital, it provides a range of services and 85 inpatient beds for adults with acute mental illness and dementia.
The building was constructed by Farrans and Heron Bros as part of a joint venture and was funded through a public-private partnership with LSHP.
It was designed as a sequence of low pavilions. All rooms are light and airy with individual en-suite bedrooms, activity areas, and safe inner courtyard gardens. As well as wards there are also learning and education spaces; a café; a range of individual and group therapy/activity spaces; space for self help, advocacy and voluntary organisations; spiritual space; family visiting rooms; a gymnasium and sporting facilities; and assessment and office accommodation for community teams.
The Award for Product Innovation of the Year was presented to Galvin Specialised for its SafeCare mental health tapware and shower accessories; while the Refurbishment Project of the Year Award went to Endcliffe Ward at the Longley Centre in Sheffield, a psychiatric intensive care unit designed by P+HS Architects.
The winner of the last two awards, including Project of the Year, was the Oberlands Centre (IBI and States of Guernsey Health and Social Services Department). It also picked up the title of Collaborative Estates and Facilities Team.