This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to invest in our acute inpatient facilities and is hugely beneficial to the people of Northern Derbyshire, demonstrating equity throughout the county, giving service users and staff an opportunity to shape the future of mental health facilities and environments.
There will be no reduction in the number of beds available – in fact there will be an increase of two beds which will enable more local residents of Northern Derbyshire access to inpatient services, closer to home and provides equity across the county.
The proposed development will continue to be located on the Chesterfield Royal Hospital site, meaning there is little change in travel for patients and carers. The configuration of the wards at this unit will allow for flexibility in gender allocation as fluctuations demand.
The development will enhance services currently available at the Hartington Unit and will provide a better quality patient experience:
All rooms with be single and en-suite, improving privacy and dignity and bringing our inpatient provision in line with national requirements.
The new hospital will be purpose built and equipped with modern facilities and additional resources (for example a shared therapy suite incorporating ADL kitchen, indoor fitness room, online library resource room, arts room and access to a secured roof terrace/garden for wards on the first floor).
Non-binary, flexible ward spaces will be available to accommodate those who do not necessary identify as staying on a male or female ward. This will greatly increase personal privacy and dignity and enable our services to be fully accommodating and flexible without being discriminatory.
Single room settings will allow for an improvement to individual patient care. Patient preferences can be considered to a greater degree, for example the temperature of the rooms to suit the need of the individual
