Building for better care - Our new mental health inpatient services
Delivering high quality mental health care and treatment is fundamental to what we do as a Trust; we committed to develop three new mental health inpatient services in Guildford, Chertsey, and east Surrey because we want to provide the best in mental health care. Farnham Road Hospital, Guildford, opened in December 2015, and following its completion, our focus moved to the former Abraham Cowley Unit (ACU) site on the St. Peter’s Hospital campus, Chertsey and a third service to be provided in the east of the county. Here we share the latest programme updates.
Construction progress continues at pace
Construction of Silverwood is really taking shape. The brick and blockwork are 80% complete and a third of the windows are installed. The external building rendering is about to start; this is where a special silicone mixture that provides protection to the block work and insulation to the building is applied to the outside walls. Internally, the partition walls are going up, and the first elements of the heating, cooling and electrical systems have been installed.
In the new year, we’ll reach our next important milestone where the building is ‘watertight’. ‘Watertight’ is a popular term used in the construction industry to describe the point in the build process where the structure is sheltered from the weather.
You can see the construction progress in our latest timelapse footage.
Our new Northwest Mental Health Inpatient Service’s name is announced
After an extensive public survey, the much-anticipated name for our new Northwest Mental Health Inpatient Service and its four wards on St. Peter’s Hospital campus in Chertsey have been announced.
Following the distribution of a public survey in August, which encouraged participants to select their preferred names from a shortlist of options, the response was overwhelming with over 560 votes. The resounding choice for the building’s name emerged as "Silverwood."
For the four wards, the winning selection was Polaris, Orion, Lyra, and Vega, drawing inspiration from stars and constellations known for their brightness, strength, and uniqueness. This celestial theme was a wildcard suggestion, originating from an insightful individual who believed it resonated perfectly with the new service.
Engagement with people who use our services
We held our latest Lived Experience Group event in October where we shared a programme update, the results of the survey for the building and ward names and talked through our recruitment plan. We also discussed our trust’s clinical strategy and operational model for the new service. There was lots of opportunity for discussion and questions.
Our next Lived Experience Group will be held on March 7 2024. You are welcome to attend if you’ve used our services in the past, are a family member or carer of someone who has, have an interest in mental health or work for our Trust. Please come along to share your ideas and challenge our thinking.
Information about future meetings are available on the Trust’s website
Art engagement workshop weaves nature into every space
Renowned artist Kate Bond recently led an engaging workshop for Silverwood. A specialist in healthcare interior design, Kate facilitated a nature printing workshop to define some of the artistic pieces for the new service.
Our vision is to seamlessly integrate art into the building’s interior design, creating an environment which is therapeutic and connected to nature. With her expertise in using nature to enhance tranquillity and well-being, Kate collaboratively involved colleagues and people who use services in the creative process.
By showcasing different mood boards, Kate illustrated how art is made up of several layers and the group looked at the emotional and sensory responses to various art forms. She also showed how art can be used to help connect a building to local landscapes, such as Chertsey's enchanting bluebell woods or the scenic grounds at RHS Wisley. Participants were encouraged to craft their own designs using fabric, grasses, leaves, and plants, fostering a sense of co-creation.
This hands-on session provided invaluable insights that will help shape Silverwood's artistic identity, and the designs generated during the workshop will help influence Kate's artistic vision for the new mental health service.
Building upon the success of this workshop, a subsequent session will be scheduled for January at Farnham Road Hospital.
Plans for our new mental health inpatient service in east Surrey
Currently, our resources are focused on the construction and opening of Silverwood. We continue to review the scheme options for east Surrey and are conducting wider clinical engagement.
Contact us:
If you have any questions, you would like more information or to sign up for an event, please get in touch. You can contact the team at: newhospitals@sabp.nhs.uk