£105.9m state-of-the-art mental health hospital opens
The new state-of-the-art £105.9million adult mental health inpatient hospital North View, built by Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH), became fully operational this week (November 18).
The bespoke, purpose-built development replaces Park House on the North Manchester General Hospital site and marks the beginning of a new chapter for the future of inpatient mental health care for people in Manchester.
The opening follows years of meticulous planning and hard work, taking into account the needs of GMMH’s patients and service users, their families and the local communities in North Manchester to ensure every detail was considered in providing a first-class caring environment for patients to recover, and an outstanding workplace for staff to deliver care.
GMMH’s Chief Executive, Karen Howell, said:
“The development of North View over the past few years, culminating in yesterday’s opening, has been an inspiring journey. We have worked with our patients and service users, their families, staff and local people to ensure we have a brilliant new hospital which will provide a bespoke environment built to accommodate and support people in Manchester experiencing severe mental illness.”
“There is already excitement on the wards about the improvements at North View with patients commenting on the positive difference to that of Park House. They are particularly enjoying the space and gardens, having their own ensuite bedrooms and the food, which is now freshly cooked on site by our catering team.”
GMMH’s Project Director for North View, Marc Reed, said:
“This development journey started over five years ago, and during this time we have encountered several challenges that could have deterred its progress. However, we were determined to deliver the hospital, without compromising quality, at the earliest possible opportunity, offering our staff and service users a bespoke environment to support recovery.”
“So many stakeholders have worked tirelessly to construct, prepare and transition services into North View, and seeing the smiles on the faces of those using the building has been really rewarding.”
Service user George, who had been at Park House since July, and has just moved across to North View, said:
“You can’t put a price on the support and care that I have been given. This is a mighty fine place to be. It’s nice and private where both your safety and dignity is taken into account.”
The new hospital significantly improves patient privacy and dignity, providing:
- 150 single en-suite bedrooms to be provided over nine single sex wards, including a purpose-built Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit, seven adult acute wards for female and male adults, one rehabilitation ward, one older adults’ ward and a treatment suite that supports research and innovation studies.
- An assessment suite (specifically for people needing a place of safety and assessment under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act).
- A variety of internal activity areas and multiple outside garden spaces, specifically designed to enhance the environment and aid recovery.
The hospital will continue to provide assessment and treatment for adults and older people with mental health needs, such as depression, schizophrenia, psychosis and dementia. Patients and staff have now fully transferred across from Park House which has now been decommissioned and planned to be demolished in the new year.
North View has been built to the latest environmental standards and offers a therapeutic, modern and accessible environment for patients and workplace for staff, which will promote the integration of physical and mental wellbeing.
The building was fully constructed without any impact on current patients or disruption to the day-to-day running of services.
The building has been specifically designed to minimise its environmental impact, through renewable energy sources, innovative technology and sustainable materials to optimise energy efficiency. It will include the following to support the delivery of a ‘Net Zero’ NHS:
- All Electric – The development is the first mental health facility in the country to operate completely on electricity.
- Technology - Solar photovoltaics (PV) panels will be incorporated across the building to capture the sun’s energy and convert it into usable electricity. Energy use will be monitored and controlled by using intelligent building-management systems.
- Lighting - LED lighting, which is today’s most energy efficient lighting technology, will be fitted throughout as standard.
- Hot Water - Hot water will be produced through a combination of solar thermal technology and air source heat pumps (which source heat from other areas) to supply efficient, temperature-controlled hot water throughout.
- Heating - Heating will be produced from air source heat pumps, which will supply underfloor heating and radiant panels throughout the building.
- Ventilation & Cooling – Ventilation will be provided through a combination of natural ventilation wherever possible, and chilled water from reverse cycle air source heat pumps, which will be sent to air conditioning systems to maintain a comfortable temperature. This has been developed through virtual modelling to maximise the efficiency.
- Insulation - The building will be incredibly well insulated, using sustainable materials to prevent heat loss and reduce energy use.
There are also accessible green transport options to and from the site.
Building work started in August 2022 and has remained on programme to be delivered on time and in budget. The development forms part of wider regeneration plans being developed for the North Manchester General Hospital site.
GMMH became responsible for the delivery of services at Park House, based in Crumpsall, in 2017 and immediately prioritised the need for new facilities to improve the therapeutic environment needed for patients.
Patients at Park House were accommodated across male and female wards, in mainly dormitory-style hospital accommodation, and with little outdoor space.
