Meadow Green – A New Type of Dementia Ward, for Design in Mental Health

Synopsis

Meadow Green is special because:

1. It’s been designed from a staff initiative to fulfil a clinical need.
The presentation will explain how the original idea came from staff initiatives and research.

2. It’s functional.
Through the design process, we concentrated on function above everything. Part of the ‘functional’ aspect of the project is the new facility must be easy to look after and work for staff as well as patients.

3. It’s outside and yet part of the existing Meadow Ward.
The integration of the ward was a particular concern for staff.

4. Staff have been instrumental in guiding the design at every stage.
Design Team meetings (held both online and in person at the unit) were attended and in many cases driven by staff at the New Haven Unit.

5. It’s retrofitted (not new build) to an existing hospital.
This makes the new Ward extremely cost effective and space-efficient.

6. It’s in an NHS setting (not a care home).

7. It’s been installed to a budget and NHS clinical constraints.

I have worked with DSA Environment + Design since 2007 on a range of outdoor spaces mental healthcare projects across Worcestershire. I was therefore confident that they had the ability and track record to deliver what was needed to meet the brief for this forward-looking and innovative project.

DSA knew the site well, David Singleton having been a member of the design team that delivered the original Newhaven Wards in 2012. DSA have tackled the complexities of the project competently and with their usual enthusiasm! They engaged the staff early on and were particularly responsive in working closely with them to evolve ideas and produce a new Outdoor Ward; something that is, we think, unique to NHS dementia care in the UK.

DSA continue to visit to learn how the ‘outdoor ward’ is working, so that the lessons can be taken forward into other projects.