Work starts on multi million pound investment in Worcestershire mental health provision

By Nicky Godding

16 November 2021

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A multi-million-pound investment has begun to transform Worcestershire mental health provision for patients.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust appointed building contractor Speller Metcalfe to undertake the £11 million scheme.

The "Elimination of Dormitories" projects is part of a wider £400 million, UK-wide investment to improve facilities for mental health patients by removing shared sleeping quarters.

The project will provide patients at the Elgar Unit in Worcester with en-suite facilities during their stay.

Dr John Devapriam, Medical Director at the Trust, said: "Replacing the existing dormitories in our mental health units will improve the therapeutic environment for our patients, and support their right to privacy and dignity while they are with us."

The project involved the demolition and reconstruction of two, single-storey wards, Holt and Athelon, which form part of the existing Elgar unit, to create a total of 30 new en-suite rooms. Each ward will also have access to a refurbished courtyard, living and kitchen areas.

Mark Hudgeon, regional director at Speller Metcalfe, added: "Providing appropriate health services for patients is absolutely paramount to the NHS being able to continue with their unparalleled level of care and professional service.

"We are absolutely committed to enabling them to continue in the same vein."

The project is due to complete in late 2023.

By Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe.

After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts.

She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.