Suicide rates in Liverpool are 23% higher compared to the national average. Local in-patient care has to date been in dormitory accommodation which is not fit for purpose to tackle this problem.
Helping address this is Mossley Hill, an innovative, new-build 80-bed in-patient adult acute mental health hospital in south Liverpool; with 4 wards, S136 suite, assessment unit, and share therapies provision. It is part of the eradicating dormitories programme.
Recovery is integral to the design. Natural light, simple layouts, integration of garden space, patient control of their environments, regular seating and social points, and exceptional therapeutic facilities combine to aid recovery in a holistic manner.
Visual interest is plentiful at Mossley Hill. The main entrance and reception area is fully glazed to provide a view through the building to a landscaped winter garden. This sense of openness is designed to provide transparency to ease the journey into the building.
The café is flanked by the winter garden and a bright terrace on the other. Entering wards, a small courtyard accompanies each air-lock to ensure transition through is softened and calmed, with the focus being nature, rather than security.
On ward, there are three key spatial zones – the central living area and two bedroom wings, each of which have lines of sight and views out to landmark mature trees, with corner window seats to enjoy the view.
Clinical flexible is integrated, with each ward capable of being sub-divided into 3 zones for nursing need or outbreak response. Enhanced nursing, bariatric, and accessible bedrooms are provided on all wards.
Nestled into a leafy site, the building sits gently into the sloping topography. Each ward has two gardens for service user use, providing maximum flexibility for both service user therapeutic input and social relaxation.
Sustainability:
* Superb U-values and air-tightness (lower use of energy)
* Fully electric with air-source heat pumps
* BREEAM excellent.
* 450m2 solar panels.
* Materials locally sourced while still meeting necessary anti-ligature and safety requirements. The Britplas windows manufactured just 22 miles away. Brickwork manufactured 100 miles away.
The co-production design process began from the project’s gestation, the outputs of which are woven into the whole building. Each work stage involved presentation to, and sign off by, the Trust’s design champion’s board, which included Trust chair, service users, experts-by-experience, academics, and design experts.
The project impact:
* Length of stay: 61% reduction
* Incidents resulting in patient/staff harm: 64% reduction
* Seclusion Use: 69% reduction
Impact on patient experience is more significant:
“This building is a breath of fresh air… I am a lot happier here, I didn’t expect it to be as good as it is. This building will help people for years, it’s been a huge investment in future mental health in this area…
Grandchildren love to come and visit – the room is lovely and we sit out in the sunshine. They don’t even realise this is a hospital and everyone feels relaxed. You can enjoy each other’s company. This is a great job, the ‘crème de la crème’.”
* Patient A
