Mental health boost for Stevenage as new hospital plans unveiled
Last year, it was reported the NHS Trust could spend £64m on the project
Plans for a new specialist mental health hospital in Stevenage have moved a step closer, after the NHS submitted their proposals to the local district council.
The application, submitted by Vincent and Gorbin on behalf of Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, says the development will incorporate new technology to provide first class care and replace outdated provision elsewhere in the county.
If approved, the 54-bed unit will replace the existing provision at the nearby Lister Hospital and at Albany Lodge, in St Albans.
The new building will be adjacent to the Lister, on green field land to the south of Graveley Road. The site had previously been included as part of an application for a nursing home, but newer proposals were reduced in size, which will now allow for the construction of the new building.
The application says the new hospital will improve the patient experience with modern facilities and easier access to outdoor space, as well as improving staff well-being by creating a fit-for-purpose environment.
Last year, it was reported the Trust could spend £64m on the project, which will allow the NHS to reduce reliance on remote placements, which often sees patients being treated further away from home.
Currently, Lister Hospital only has 20 mental health beds while there are 78 in the east of the county at Albany Lodge and Kingfisher Court in Radlett, with the new proposal set to address this imbalance.
The new hospital will also be able to improve access to support in a crisis for patients, staff and other services, while its proximity to Lister Hospital also supported integrated care across departments.
The hospital will include an admissions ward, two adult acute wards, a section 136 place of safety and a seclusion suite, as well as a family courtyard and a number of terraces to provide easy to access outdoor space.
The Trust has said the design of the hospital will allow for separation of gender, vulnerability and illness.
All bedrooms are en-suite, and each ward will have an activity room and interview rooms which can be used for therapy sessions.
The hospital will also include a café and secure adjoining sky garden, which aims to create a ‘homely’ setting for users to eat in.
The site is on a greenfield location, but has been allocated for development in the borough council’s local plan as part of plans to create a health campus for the town.
The application sets out the reasons behind the new build, and the Trust said: “The environments at the Lister and St Albans sites do not meet the ‘Outstanding’ standards the Trust want for all services users and as standalone units with poor environments are not conducive to providing a high-quality experience.
“Service users share bathrooms/showers, have limited access to outside space, and a limited choice and access to activities. The choices to meet with family on and off ward is also restricted.
“Staff sickness rates are twice the Trust average. The poor environment impacts upon service user recovery and on staff well-being and performance.
“The new hospital incorporates developments on technology, service integration, energy efficiency and staff and patient well-being, providing first class care addressing the long recognised deficiency in care provision across east Hertfordshire and aligns with the NHS Long Term Plan ambitions for community based mental health.”
The plans were submitted to Stevenage Borough Council on February 7, with a consultation period open until March 10. A decision on the plans is expected in May.