Published on: 16th February 2021
We are creating single gender accommodation in all our adult and older people’s mental health wards (same-gender bedrooms, bathrooms and day rooms). The aim is to respect patients’ privacy and dignity and meet national guidelines.
As part of wider improvements, soon all older people’s wards will only provide care for a single type of mental health condition – functional (e.g. depression, anxiety or personality disorders) or organic (e.g. dementia or Parkinson’s disease). This will allow our staff to provide more specialist care that better meets patients’ needs.
We received around £1million from the Department of Health and Social Care to support this work and have involved patients, carers, staff and other partners.
On Moorside ward, at Rochdale’s Birch Hill Hospital, our old dormitories are being replaced with single en-suite bedrooms, along with other improvements.
Despite covid challenges, phase one recently completed. This includes the first two bedrooms and an activity hub, boasting a gym, therapy and sensory rooms and occupational therapists’ office. It will allow patients to benefit from improved activities, which support their recovery, reduce boredom and improve coping skills.
When all work is complete (expected summer 2021), there will be 18 bedrooms for women with functional mental health conditio
Click here for an infographic summarising our wider single gender accommodation plans and progress.
Pictured above are the new bedrooms, an en-suite bathroom and the activity hub on our Moorside ward.
