New hospital unit in Walsall promises to improve care for older adults
It has been purpose built to support older adults with dementia and functional mental health conditions
A new hospital unit in Walsall has promised to improve care for older adults including those dealing with dementia and functional mental health conditions.
Patients have been transferred to the Dorothy Pattison Hospital Older Adults Unit today (Feb 5th).
It replaces the Bloxwich Hospital which has been described by the Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust as outdated and unsuitable for modern impatient care.
They said the Dorothy Pattison Hospital Unit will offer more modern surroundings for better person-centred care.
For example, there will be 25 private en-suite rooms as oppose to dormitories which will offer more dignity and infection control, they said.
The new layout should improve staff efficiency as well, according to the NHS trust.
Anne Detheridge is the Lead Consultant Pyschologist at the Dorothy Pattison Hospital Unit. She told us what benefits the new unit has to offer:
"It is bright and there is a lot of natural light, including a garden area. We all know how our environment influences our thoughts and our mental wellbeing.
"This new unit should compliment our mental wellbeing. Not just for the patients, but for the staff and carers too," she said.
"It is going to be a little bit hectic"
She also told us about how the next few weeks will look as patients are transferred from the old hospital to the new one:
"It is an immense task to move a hospital. It takes months, if not years of planning.
"It is going to be a little bit hectic, but once moved we will start to feel the benefits of this new unit on everybody," she said.