Individuals in Institutional Care; What Patients Need, What They Get

Synopsis

The SouthWest London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust commissioned new hospital buildings, Trinity and Shaftesbury, which opened in December 2022 and September 2023 respectively. Since opening, the new hospital buildings have been singled-out for national and international acclaim & awards. They are the centrepiece of an Estates Modernisation Programme focused on the de-stigmatization and integration of mental healthcare facilities within a large-scale development that now includes 1,200 new homes, a new 32-acre public park, retail shops and community spaces created on surplus NHS land.
Co-designed with staff, patients, carers and service users, the aim was to create therapeutic and dignified surroundings for staff and service-users using open courtyards, planted gardens, ample daylight, fresh air, safe layouts, artworks and careful attention to acoustics. The hospital’s purpose was to replace Victorian facilities with high quality inpatient and outpatient services, giving patients a chance to recover in an environment that supports the care they deserve.
The initial post-occupancy data shows serious incidents have been reduced by over 36% – an exceptional and noteworthy benefit. Energy use in the new facility is 17% below projected values.

But has the facility made working or staying in a mental health facility better? And, if so, how?

The presentation will look at how hospital spaces have been adapted after hand-over to address practical concerns about maintenance, control and security. It will look at specific features of the new hospital that are valued (or not) by service-users, clinical staff and management. Lastly the talk will examine how can designers, product manufacturers and stakeholders can uphold and deliver the vision of better, safer and therapeutic mental healthcare facilities.