Groundbreaking begins on new Mossley Hill facility to end dormitory wards in Liverpool

Local councillors and partners met NHS leaders to formally mark the start of major works at Mossley Hill, the new mental health facility in Liverpool that will see the end of dormitory wards in the city.

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust’s plans for the 80 bed facility will consolidate services from across Liverpool on the site of the old Mossley Hill Hospital. The new building on Park Avenue have been subject to extensive public engagement going back to 2016.

The Trust’s Chief Executive, Prof Joe Rafferty CBE, said: “Work is well under way at Mossley Hill so we can give the people of Liverpool what they need – the very best care in a modern, therapeutic environment with single en suite facilities and easy access to gardens and open space.

 “Our current inpatient estate had been identified as a limiting factor in service users’ recovery. More than that, by delivering better buildings we’re also setting newer and higher standards in mental health care for everyone.”

Pictured above: Clinical staff and estates leads from Mersey Care join construction firm Grahams and GB Partners as work begins on the new Mossley Hill mental healthcare site

Although the historic mansion building on Park Avenue has been retained, the rest of the site had been cleared as it contained a mixture of mid 20^th century building no longer fit for purpose. Material from the older buildings were crushed for re-use in the development, as part of a clear environmental strategy which also includes trees, gardens, cycle parking and car charging points. Some parts of the facility have been constructed remotely so assembly work can continue even when temperatures are too low to work on site.

Prof Rafferty said: “This is a major investment in care for the people of Liverpool. It’s also important for our staff and for those building it. As a Trust, we’ve seen major new sites built at Clock View in Walton in 2015, Rowan View in Maghull in 2020 and Southport’s Hartley Hospital, as well as refurbishing other sites such as Leigh Moss near Alder Hey. We will also open a low secure unit in Maghull in a few months and today continues Mersey Care’s radical reshaping of care for our patients.”

Maria Caulfield MP, Mental Health minister, said: “Every person receiving treatment in a mental health facility deserves to be treated with dignity, respect and privacy, in an appropriate setting.

“This new facility, supported through government funding to remove dormitories from mental health facilities, will provide the people of Liverpool with the highest standards of care and accommodation.

“I’m committed to improving mental health and wellbeing outcomes for everyone. We’re investing an extra £2.3 billion per year into mental health services by 2024, which will deliver an additional 27,000 mental health professionals and give two million more people the help they need.”

Pictured above: Rosie Cooper, Chair of Mersey Care, and Executive Director of Estates, Elaine Darbyshire, ready to support the new build at Mossley Hill

A competitive tendering process took place, led by Liverpool and Sefton Health Partnership, who are overseeing the construction of the new mental health facility. Construction giants GRAHAM were chosen as the preferred build partner because of their wide experience including numerous health sector projects and architects Gilling Dod have worked with service users, carers and stakeholders to create the modern, airy designs for the building.

The new development will be built to BREEAM Excellent environmental standard with air source heat pumps being used instead of fossil fuel burning gas boilers. High levels of insulation will be achieved through the use of Modern Methods of Construction – utilising precisely factory manufactured building components.

“This will provide a therapeutic environment for those with mental health needs, allowing them to rest and recover from their crisis episode,” added Prof Rafferty, “We’re looking forward to seeing our new building with all of its en suite single bedroom accommodation, fulfilling a national pledge in improving care standards.”

Dave Sweeney, Chair of Liverpool and Sefton Health Partnership (LSHP) said: “I’m delighted to see the work progressing for this important new mental health facility. This is the third project of its kind that Mersey Care has commissioned LSHP to provide Project Management services for, with Clock View Hospital and Hartley Hospital in Southport completed in 2015 and 2020 respectively.

“The dedicated LSHP team will build upon their experience gained on previous projects, their trusted relationships with Mersey Care and an intimate knowledge of existing local NHS estate, to ensure that a first class facility is delivered for services users and staff alike.”

Last summer, an online engagement exercise saw the majority of respondents keen to retain the name ‘Mossley Hill’. Locals are kept informed of plans with leaflet drops and there are open day events planned throughout the construction period. The new site is expected to open in 2024.