'Topping Out' ceremony for new hospital to end mental health dormitory wards in Liverpool

Senior Mersey Care officials gathered with construction partners to mark the 'Topping Out' ceremony for a new state of the art 80-bed hospital, which will end mental health dormitory wards in Liverpool.

Trish Bennett, who will become the Trust's new Chief Executive Officer later this year, was joined by Director of Finance Rob Collins and Director of Mental Healthcare Division Donna Robinson for the traditional builders' ceremony which marks the final beam being laid during a construction. They also met representatives of construction partners for a tour of the new build on the site of the old Mossley Hill Hospital, which is expected to open in the summer of 2025.

"As well as being a stunning building, this site will be a massive step up in our clinical facilities," said Trish "I know patients will truly benefit from the high quality therapeutic environment allowing them to rest and recover from their crisis episode.”

Pictured above: Trish Bennett (centre) is pictured alongside Director of Finance Rob Collins (fourth from left) with lead nurses for the project during the 'Topping Out' ceremony.

Although the historic mansion building at Mossley Hill on Park Avenue has been retained, the rest of the site was cleared as it contained a mixture of mid 20^th century buildings 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 electric vehicle charging points.

During the preparation stages, an engagement exercise saw the majority of respondents keen to retain the name ‘Mossley Hill’. Local residents are kept engaged and informed of plans with leaflet drops and open day events have been planned throughout the construction period.

“We’re less than a year from the completion of this impressive new site,” explained Prof Joe Rafferty, the departing Chief Executive Officer. “It will 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.

 “We know our current inpatient estate is a limiting factor in service users’ recovery so by delivering better buildings, Mersey Care is also setting newer and higher standards in mental health care and recovery.

“As a Trust, we’ve seen major new hospitals built at Clock View in Walton in 2015, two new secure forensic hospitals in Maghull, Southport’s Hartley Hospital, plus several major refurbishments and Mossley Hill demonstrates Mersey Care’s radical reshaping of inpatient care facilities for our patients.”

Rosie Cooper, Chair of Mersey Care, added:  “As Chair of Mersey Care, I understand that the quality of the physical environment is hugely important for those experiencing inpatient care and am very pleased that the people of Liverpool will benefit from this wonderful facility."