Severely ill patients are being welcomed back to a completely refurbished ward this week.
Belvoir Ward is a psychiatric intensive care unit, providing care for patients with some of the greatest mental health needs in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
It was opened as part of the Bradgate Mental Health Unit on the Glenfield Hospital site in 1998, and this is its first significant refurbishment. Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust has spent £1.6 million on improvements.
Last year inspectors from the Care Quality Commission said the ward was “tired and in need of updating”, but noted that there were plans for changes.
Samantha Wood is the head of service for mental health inpatients and urgent and emergency care for Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust. She said: “It looks beautiful. It is really fresh and bright, and much more in keeping with a therapeutic environment for healthcare.
“We hope that the improvements help patients to feel that they are going to be treated in a more therapeutic environment, and their families and carers will see that they are going to be safe. It is also a much nicer place to work for our staff.
“It is really fantastic to see such a big difference in a relatively short space of time. Our staff are really excited to work there again.”
The ward had been temporarily reduced to a capacity of six before the refurbishment, due to damage in one area. That has been put right, and the capacity has been increased to its original ten. Each patient has their own room, with an ensuite toilet and shower. The rooms and ensuite doors have been decorated with images of Leicestershire landmarks to instil a sense of hope.
The ward has been completely re-decorated, with all new flooring, new windows, upgraded doors, and new furniture for patients as well as new drinks station and improved heating. Security is an important consideration on the ward because some people are detained under the Mental Health Act, so the work has included improvements to the safety systems, personal alarms and fire alarms.
A new mental health tribunal room has been created. This is where patients who are detained under the mental health act and their representatives can apply to be discharged from their section.
Because of the extent of the works, patients were transferred for the duration to another psychiatric intensive care unit in a neighbouring county.
A significant proportion of the money for the work was provided in a grant from NHS England, and it was carried out by contractors Tilbury Douglas.