Hammerton Court opens its doors

Cllr Jenny Lay, The Lord Mayor of Norwich unveiling the Hammerton Court plaque with Trust Chair, Maggie Wheeler

Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust’s new dementia intensive care unit, Hammerton Court officially opened Wednesday 14 March 2012 by Councillor Jenny Lay, The Lord Mayor of Norwich.  Maggie Wheeler, Trust Chair said “Today I am confident Hammerton Court is the best dementia care unit in the country.”Maggie was also keen to stress that the building forms a small part of a dementia care pathway that includes a dementia intensive support team who provide the support necessary to keep dementia patients at home for as long as possible. During the opening event, poet John Batt and friend of Maggie Wheeler, who himself has dementia read a poem he had written especially for the building.  And The Lord Mayor commented that the building highlights the enormous progress being made in the care of people suffering with dementia.

The Trust is not just investing in bricks and mortar but also in helping people to stay in their own homes for as long as possible.  Hammerton Court is a facility where those suffering with the mental and physical disabilities associated with dementia will come when it is no longer possible for them to stay where they are living.  The Trusts focus is to care for people at home and in the community as far as it can.

Hammerton Court, on the Julian Hospital in Colman Road, Norwich, has 36 bedrooms and is a state of the art building, purpose built for dementia care and developed in partnership with service users, family carers and staff.  The state of the art building, designed with architect Ingleton Wood and built by contractor R G Carter, has been designed using the latest research and expertise around person centred dementia care.  Each bedroom contains a wealth of assisted technology allowing patients to be as independent as possible, with light sensors in the bathrooms and automatic water switch off. This assistive technology will also help the nurses and carers see when a patient is out of bed from outside the room, giving more privacy to the patient.

The building is environmentally friendly with features such as a “live” green roof which will provide a haven for birds, butterflies and other wildlife. There is under floor heating; ground source heat pumps and solar panels to generate hot water and electricity. Large windows, high ceiling design and skylights will capitalise on natural light, and combined with modern decor will make the unit feel like a high specification home.

Plans for young people’s wellbeing service as government announce £22m boost

The Trust has announced its aim to provide wellbeing services for children and adolescents, just one day after Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg declares a £22 million boost to do just that. The £22m will see the national improving access to psychological therapies initiative extended to benefit children and young people over the next three years, including investments in training for people working in youth services. Andy Goff, child and adolescent mental health service development manager, said: “We completely support the government’s initiative and it has come at absolutely the right time. The Trust, in partnership with commissioners NHS Suffolk and NHS Norfolk and Waveney, and local authorities will be putting a bid together to provide wellbeing services for young people in Norfolk. Often, adults with mental health problems will have experienced symptoms since childhood,” Andy added. “By tackling the stigma of mental health and making it easier for children to access the help they need at an earlier age, we can help provide a healthier overall wellbeing as they move into adulthood.”