Step Exhibitions
Moorside Minor Ward Refurbishments, Trafford General Hospital
Nominee Information
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust (GMMH) operates a large and complex building portfolio to provide mental health services across the Northwest of England. They provide mental health services to both adults and adolescents.
The Moorside Unit is locate on the Trafford General Hospital site in Davyhulme, Manchester. It consists of 5 wards- Medlock Ward (female),
ground floor- Bollin & Greenway Wards (older adults), Brook Ward (males) and Irwell Ward (PICU). In total the unit consists of 71 beds with a few surge beds.
The Trust identified Moorside Unit as an area where significant investment is required to provide minor upgrades throughout all 5 wards and, if possible, communal areas outside of the wards. In its current state, the unit has fallen below the required GMMH requirements and improvements are required to improve ward environments to aid with patient’s mental health, recovery, wellbeing and safety.
The refurbishment of the Moorside Unit main entrance was the pre-cursor to the more involved ward refresh noted above and was seen as an early service user engagement exercise, whilst the main project funding was being secured. The refresh of the main entrance was seen as an important first step to show the Trust’s intent to invest in the facility, improve staff morale and pride in the unit, and improve the patient AND visitor experience following the hardships of lockdown. The entrance area needed to stay live throughout the works with no loss of functionality, safety or
security.
Initial budget was set at a maximum £175k and the project needed to be completed (from inception to handover) within 4 months.
Key issues with the existing entrance space:
• Poor arrival space for the Unit>stigma
• No natural light/views to outside
• No segregated waiting areas for outpatients and ward visitors/service users (privacy and dignity issues)
• No separate holding area for deliveries
• No sense of place. Old tired/institutional
• Poor office environments
• Poor visitor WC provision
• Poor lighting/heating
• Cluttered/stuffy/noisy – sensory overload!
• Poor signage/no canopy to the front door
• Tired entrance door/access system
Design:
The design had to be efficient, with minimal structural alterations, whilst allowing the functionality/security of the existing unit to stay live/unhindered. Following some rapid initial engagement sessions, a preferred solution was agreed. It moved the existing reception from its current location to a more central position, allowing line of sight to two separate waiting areas. These were screened with timber slats to allow some cross vent/daylight through without compromising privacy. The area vacated, afforded access to an external wall and windows/daylight. Service users were involved in the interior design process, including the design of the central ceiling feature light and fresh colour scheme. Key features of the design – sperate OPD and inpatient waiting areas, increased natural light/views out, accessible reception/interface, privacy and dignity, artwork/place making potential. New reception office, new visitor WCs, segregated access lobby for deliveries, hidden storage, open counter non-institutional design/good visibility – i.e. ‘a welcome face’.
