The first patients are being cared for at a new £55m hospital development.
The new wards at the Rivers Centre in Hellesdon will offer state-of-the-art facilities for adults who need specialist inpatient mental healthcare.
They include therapeutic indoor and outdoor space, as well as world-class artwork through the Hospital Rooms project.
More about the new wards
The site includes three new ward buildings, a gym and a community hub, which houses the main reception and café.
Each of the bedrooms has space for storage and a private toilet/shower room, plus views outside.
In the centre of the wards are outdoor areas with seating and gym equipment.
There are also facilities if patients require extra care, together with outdoor space.
Sustainability has been a key factor in the development, with electricity supplied from solar panels and heating via air source heat pumps.
The wards will be single gender accommodation to improve safety, dignity and privacy of those being cared for by the Trust who are most unwell, in line with government guidance.
The hope is the new beds will help to reduce the use of out of area and independent sector placements, recognising that people need inpatient care as close to home as possible.
Dr Sophie Bagge, Lived Experience Lead at the Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT), said increased safety was also paramount. “The extra safety measures, such as alarms on the bedroom doors, gives me the confidence that we are acting on learning, so when anyone comes into hospital they will be and feel safe and supported.”
Artwork
Original artwork has been created for the centre with patients, local people and renowned artists working together for 15 months under the Hospital Rooms project.
Artists have included Turner prize-nominated Mark Titchner, whose work has been installed on the external gym wall.
Reaction
Sophie Bagge has been involved with the new build from the start. She said: “This is a real step forward in inpatient mental health care. The Rivers Centre will make for a much safer and better experience for people who need to spend time in inpatient services and for staff delivering care.”
She said the project was testament to how corporate colleagues, people with lived experience, clinical staff and wider system colleagues had worked collaboratively and with a shared purpose to create something “really special”.
Caroline Donovan, Chief Executive Officer at NSFT, said the opening of the new wards to patients was an exciting time for the Trust in improving care.
“These new facilities have been co-designed with patients to provide a bespoke, therapeutic environment as we want the best possible outcomes for the people coming into our wards,” she said.
