The Sheffield NHS Health and Social Care Trust wanted to reconfigure and upgrade an existing space for its patients following the release of a new NHS initiative to create a number of “step-down” units within nursing homes.
Following a national crisis of bed shortages on wards, and delays to outpatient care as a result, the NHS has pledged to create “step-down” units that will make a huge difference to how outpatient care is delivered.
One of four cottages that form part of Woodland View Nursing Home – Beech Cottage – is one such project. The existing space was looking a bit worse for wear and wasn’t exactly providing comfort to patients who were medically fit to be discharged but could not yet leave due to delays on their accommodation.
The purpose of the step-down units is to provide a home away from home, and if anyone knows how to create this, it’s I&G. After winning the scheme by competitive tender, that’s exactly what we did.
Re-roofing of the existing building and an upgrade to both internal and external areas was needed for this project.
Works included;
Woodland View Nursing Home is one of the Trust’s specialist dementia care homes and because of the improvements made to Beech Cottage, 40 (instead of 30) people with complex or enhanced dementia will be cared for.
The Woodland View step-down unit includes:
Off the back of this, I&G is also due to start works at the Michael Carlisle Centre which will put the creation of a therapeutic environment at the heart of the development. Improvements will include a revamped garden space designed with aromatherapy and relaxation in mind, improved staff resting facilities, 12 bedrooms with anti-ligature furniture, as well as new special door top alarms with full anti-barricade, privacy glass and passport door lock systems to improve service user safety, privacy and dignity.
