Race Cottam Associates - General Development - Derbyshire

Date: 19 Aug 2008

Work has started on a multi-million pound development at Walton Hospital, Chesterfield, which will provide specialist inpatient care for elderly people suffering from mental ill health.

Leading South Yorkshire architects Race Cottam Associates have designed the £11m scheme in partnership with Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust.

The showcase project will involve demolishing two vacant buildings and delivering a purpose-designed facility with two, 24-bedded wards which should greatly improve the care and treatment of elderly patients at the Whitecotes Lane hospital.

All the rooms will be single-bedded with ensuite facilities and Race Cottam architects have designed a figure-of-eight layout to ensure the wards have no dead-ends, with wide corridors, maximising the natural light.

Mark Barker, a regional director in the Sheffield office of Race Cottam, said: "The new ward accommodation is arranged in two loosely rectangular wings that are mirrored and linked to create two connected 24-bed wards.

"Each wing has single patient bedrooms with a range of ancillary accommodation and shared therapeutic spaces. The form of this building creates an enclosed courtyard garden for patient use throughout the year.

"Medical research has shown exposure to nature has a number of psychological benefits to patients with mental health problems.

"There are improved reception and staff facilities all provided in a single storey building and we have tried to provide a welcoming, non-institutional atmosphere."

The design will also improve road access to the new unit and create a new pedestrian link to the existing day hospital.

Tim Broadley, assistant director for adults and older people's services at Derbyshire County Primary Care Trust (PCT): "This is wonderful news for Walton Hospital and the surrounding community, and demonstrates the PCT's commitment to improving local provision.

"This £11m development will result in a more user-focused serviced at the hospital and enable patients to receive care in the most appropriate environment in accordance with best practice. It will also provide vital support for carers as well as patients. We ask that staff bear with us while vital demolition work take place."

The project is due for completion in February 2010 and builds on Race Cottam's growing reputation for delivering innovative and sustainable design solutions for NHS projects.

The Solly Street practice, which also has studios in Knutsford, has delivered major schemes for a number of acute and primary care NHS Trusts across the country. It has just completed a new adult acute mental health unit at Kendray, Barnsley.