Project: New Douglas Bennett House, London
Sector: Mental health
Client: South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Main Contractor: Integrated Health Projects (Vinci/Sir Robert McAlpine)
Architects: IBI Group
Furniture: Bespoke fitted furniture, equipment, kitchens
The Project
Due to open in 2023, the purpose-built New Douglas Bennett House will house acute adult inpatient services in eight wards, including four specialist wards and a psychiatric intensive care unit at South Maudsley Hospital campus in London.
The scheme is under construction by Integrated Health Projects (IHP) – a joint venture between VINCI Construction UK and Sir Robert McAlpine.
The Furniture Solution
Deanestor was awarded the £1m contract by IHP to provide bespoke fitted furniture and fitout services for the £60m mental health facility.
Deanestor has considerable experience in fitting out mental health projects, particularly in compliance, specification detailing for these types of facilities, and in developing robust technical solutions whilst creating a welcoming and comfortable patient environment.”
Bespoke Fitted Furniture for Mental Health Services
Deanestor will be manufacturing bespoke furniture for 132 patient bedrooms over five floors, including wardrobes, desks, shelves, and bedside cabinets. This furniture is designed to be robust and heavy duty, using 22mm laminated MDF and recessed handles.
The furniture is machined and pre-assembled in the factory for a strong finish, using counter-sunk, anti-tamper screw fittings in patient areas.
Around 3,000 items of furniture and fittings will be installed by Deanestor, including items designed to an anti-ligature specification, such as curtain tracks, window blinds, and stainless-steel dispensers and soap dishes in the ensuite bathrooms. Mirrors in the ensuites and bedrooms are made from polycarbonate.
Deanestor is also manufacturing and installing 10 stainless steel kitchens – two on each floor – and furniture for dirty and clean utilities, and ancillary facilities for staff such as offices and lounge spaces.
Sample Rooms Developed
As part of the design development process and Deanestor’s early engagement in the project, two sample rooms were developed and fitted out at the hospital for the assessment of the furniture specification and patient environment by the Trust.
A Scheme Designed for Effective Treatment of Mental Health
Spread over 10,000m², the New Douglas Bennett House will allow South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to centralise its mental health services in one location.
Effective treatment of mental health is central to the design of the new facility. It will provide greater privacy for patients through single-sex wards, en-suite bathrooms, large balconies and landscaped outdoor space, family rooms, and a multi-faith suite.
Some services will be relocated from outdated facilities at Lambeth Hospital to the more modern, therapeutic facilities. These have been designed following extensive collaboration and engagement with patients, carers, clinicians and architects to create a much-improved environment.
Image courtesy of IBI Group