Developed by Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Bluebell Ward – which is situated at Walton Hospital site in Chesterfield – provides mental healthcare for 12 older adults with acute mental health needs. The service has been transferred from the mixed-age Hartington Unit, which had dormitory-style accommodation.
Mrs Elizabeth Fothergill CBE formally opened the newly refurbished Bluebell Ward during a ribbon-cutting ceremony, praising the importance of having a ward which reflects the needs of older adults with mental health needs in the north of the county.
The refurbished ward was the first of the six facilities to open to patients in the Making Room for Dignity programme, which will remove all dormitory-style accommodation to completely revamp the mental health inpatient facilities in Derbyshire. After a collaborative effort, Bluebell Ward has been refurbished with a £2.8 million investment to create an optimal environment for patients to receive specialised mental health care.
Mrs Fothergill spoke at the opening event and said: “It’s been an honour to meet so many people who have been involved in the creation of this wonderful new ward and it’s fantastic that we now have a specific older adult acute mental health facility in the north of the county.
“I understand that this wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work and commitment of so many.”
The building and refurbishment programme has also been led largely by the contributions of a range of partners including input from staff. The purpose-built facilities offer sensory environments and access to more green spaces, promoting the benefits of therapeutic activity.
Each service user has their own en-suite bedroom and control over their environment, with the ability to adjust the lighting and temperature to suit their needs. The new facilities also provide greater access to outdoor and green spaces.
Selina Ullah, Trust Chair at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, was enthusiastic about the recent development at the opening of the event, describing the new site as “a significant moment not only in Trust history but also for Derbyshire as a whole.”
Selina said: “This is a transformative improvement in the care we provide to people in Derbyshire with mental health needs. Bluebell Ward provides a wonderful, modern environment for older adults accessing our services. The bespoke facilities promote privacy and dignity, with individuals having access to their own bedrooms alongside a range of therapeutic activities taking place within shared spaces. The benefits have been felt by our colleagues and visitors, as well as by people using our services.
“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many patients sharing their enthusiasm for having their own rooms, where they can control their environment at the click of a button. I am hopeful that prioritising privacy will result in more favourable outcomes for our patients."
The important milestone event was led by Trust CEO, Mark Powell, and included a range of talks on project developments as well as a plaque on display located in the ward’s reception area.
Mark said: “I’m really pleased to see our older adults’ services being provided from this newly refurbished ward. This marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to enhance the lives of those under our care.
“We’ve received lots of positive feedback from patients, colleagues, carers and visitors during the five months the ward has been open, with comments outlining the positive difference the new environment has made to people’s care and recovery.
“All of this, of course, could not have been achieved without the dedicated, determined and hard-working teams. I would also like to say a big thank you to the many staff that have contributed to the successful completion and move to Bluebell Ward.”
The ward became fully operational in January after undergoing refurbishments made by Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Patients, carers and visitors have also shared their first impressions of the ward:
- “The ward is an inviting space, it’s open and bright, the garden is accessible and has lots of nice plants. I already feel better just walking in.” – Patient
- “Having a place in Chesterfield has made visiting easier.” – Carer
- “I like the day room and courtyard so we can spend time together.” – Visitor
- “It’s good, very good! The staff are excellent and so is the food.” – Patient
- “It’s a good ward to be on and the staff are kind.” – Patient
- “It’s much nicer than other places my relative has been before.” – Carer
- “All the patients seem to be getting the attention they need.” – Visitor
Bluebell Ward has been designed to meet the unique mental and physical health of older adults with conditions like schizophrenia and acute clinical depression.
Les Ralph, a member of the EQUAL Forum at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which is a forum for those with lived experience and their carers, also shared his thoughts. He said: “To have Bluebell Ward, dedicated to providing extra support to our more mature patients has always been high on everyone’s wish list. The EQUAL Network thanks everyone involved in making this all possible.”
Patients and staff at Bluebell Ward were also in attendance and joined by Toby Perkins – local MP for Chesterfield, the Integrated Care Board and partners at Derbyshire Community Health Services who provide services from the site at Walton Hospital.
The programme's other two new builds are the Derwent Unit, a 54-bed unit at the Chesterfield Royal Hospital site, which opened on 18 March, the Carsington Unit, a 54-bed unit at the Kingsway Hospital site in Derby, which is set to open soon; and Kingfisher House, a psychiatric intensive care unit for male patients located at Kingsway Hospital in Derby.
The two refurbishment projects aside from Bluebell Ward are Audrey House at Kingsway in Derby set to open soon; and the Radbourne Unit, at the Royal Derby Hospital.
To learn more about the Making Room for Dignity Programme, please visit the projects webpage.