Our new £8.5 million mental health facility was officially opened last Friday (8 July 2022) by Dr Ben Spencer, MP for Runnymede and Weybridge.
New Spenser Ward supports females aged 65+ who need inpatient mental health care and treatment. The spacious and modern facility is based on the St. Peter’s Hospital campus in Chertsey. It offers 20 ensuite bedrooms, multi-purpose communal areas and a relaxing garden space for people staying on the ward, their families, and carers.
The ward will be needed for approximately two years until our new mental health hospital opens nearby on the site of the former Abraham Cowley Unit (ACU), that closed in spring 2022. Built in under eight months using modular construction methods, the facility can be transported and repurposed to support other areas of the Trust once the new hospital is open.
Funding for New Spenser Ward has been provided by the Department of Health and Social Care, supported by NHS England.
Graham Wareham, our Chief Executive, said: “The official opening of New Spenser Ward is a huge milestone. Every person who needs our inpatient services deserves to be treated with dignity, respect, and privacy, in an environment that is therapeutic and supports their recovery. New Spenser Ward is a fantastic addition to the Trust and will continue to play a key part in meeting our strategic plans long after the new hospital is open.”
Speaking following the official opening ceremony, MP for Runnymede and Weybridge, Dr Ben Spencer, said: “It was a pleasure to officially open New Spenser Ward on behalf of Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The provision of quality mental health facilities, accessible to local communities, is vital. I was incredibly impressed by the therapeutic, modern and bright environment which New Spenser Ward provides and how rapidly the new unit was built. I am delighted to see this fantastic new facility up-and-running and delivering for patients.
“I am also delighted that construction of the brand-new hospital on the former Abraham Cowley Unit site is due to begin in the autumn, and I look forward to seeing the tremendous difference it will make for those who need mental health services locally.”
George, whose wife is currently staying on New Spenser Ward, said: “The ACU had shared bed spaces, so it was difficult to have a private visit to see my wife within the ward. At New Spenser Ward, the private bed spaces and bathroom facilities are well designed. One big surprise is the garden - really well designed with raised beds and an abundance of different plants and flowers giving a calming tranquil feel.”