Stepnell starts work on older adult mental health ward

Stepnell has started refurbishment works at a Chesterfield hospital to create a dedicated ward for older adults with functional mental health issues.

The £3.7m refurbishment at Walton Hospital's Bluebell Ward provides capacity for the relocation of patients from Pleasley Ward at the Hartington Unit on the Chesterfield Royal Hospital site.

The project will create a 12-bedroom older adult mental health facility with single ensuite rooms. The ward is for functional older adults, and once completed, the functional and organic older adult services will be co-located in the same building.

Tom Sewell, regional director at Stepnell, said: "The refurbishment of Bluebell Ward signifies the latest project that we are completing for an NHS Foundation Trust, and we are proud of our long-standing reputation for delivering successful healthcare projects across the country using our local expertise.

"We are helping to enhance the offering of locally accessible specialist services, as part of the NHS Long Term Plan."

The scheme is being brought forward via the Procure Partnerships Framework (PPF) for Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (DHCFT).

Tom Woolley, key account manager for the east at Procure Partnerships Framework, added: "Our partners are experts in healthcare schemes and have worked incredibly hard in the planning stages to ensure the facility is set to become a welcoming, safe and sustainable environment for the patients of Bluebell Ward.

"We are excited to see this scheme come to life and the longlasting benefit it will bring to the community of Chesterfield."

Stepnell is undertaking the works with multi-disciplinary construction consultancy EDGE.

Charlotte Dennish, cost manager at EDGE, said: "Our healthcare specialist team is proud to be working alongside Stepnell to deliver an environment that promotes wellbeing and safety, improving the patient experience.

"By working with ex-service user Nick Richards on the project, we've been able to learn from his lived experience and ensure that the space is optimised to support older adults with mental health challenges, while also providing a welcoming environment for all who will use the service."