MERSEY Care has claimed the keys for Mossley Hill Mental Health Care Facility, the newest healthcare unit of its kind in the NHS, which will end dormitory style care in Liverpool.

The new 80-bed inpatient unit has been built on the site of the old Mossley Hill Hospital and consolidates services from across the City. It was subject to extensive public engagement in 2016, and more recently sessions with service users, patients, carers and staff decided on colour schemes, artwork and the names for parts of the site.

Jenny Hurst, Mersey Care’s Chief Nurse, said:- “I’m proud to see this site now become our new health care facility. Our patients deserve the highest quality care and settings to support recovery and this amazing building represents a step change in mental health provision. When it opens to patients and service users, they will see airy, therapeutic clinics, modern en suite rooms, access to garden space and facilities like a café and a space for prayers or meditation.”

During the 30-month build, the construction leads worked with local schools and colleges, employed apprentices, and two local under-18s on work experience, as well as investing in the local economy by employing firms from the nearby area.

Ms Hurst explained:- “We involved the community to help name our new wards so they were meaningful and resonated locally. We’re aware of the old site’s history, which goes back to being a First World War Red Cross hospital near to the mansion building, which still stands alongside our new facility.”

The health facility’s new ward names are:-

• Braddock Ward (Bessie Braddock, local politician and reformer)

• Wilkinson Ward (Kitty Wilkinson, public health pioneer)

• Archer Ward (John Archer, first black mayor in the UK, born locally)

• Roscoe Ward (William Roscoe, anti-slavery campaigner)

• The Crawford Suite (named after the original landowner)

• Oasis Café (named after the former hospital restaurant).

A competitive tendering process took place led by Liverpool and Sefton Health Partnership, who supervised the build. The construction firm GRAHAM delivered the plans created by architects Gilling Dod, who worked with service users, patients. carers and stakeholders to create the modern, airy designs for the building.

Dave Sweeney, Chair of Liverpool and Sefton Health Partnership (LSHP) said:- “This is the 3rd project of its kind that Mersey Care has commissioned LSHP to provide Project Management services for. I’m delighted we’re now ready to start preparing the finished site for patients and staff.”

Elaine Siew, CEO of gbpartnerships, added:- “The Mossley Hill project is an excellent example of effective collaboration to successfully deliver a healthcare facility despite the significant challenges imposed by the pandemic. After years of planning and hard work from various contributors, we’re delighted this superbly designed building will soon be ready to offer improved, high-quality services to its patients.”

After the internal fitting is finished, outpatient clinics will open and service users and patients from Broadoak and Windsor House will transfer in late autumn 2025. More information about the project can be found on the Trust’s website.