Care home contract goes to Leadbitter
THE Leadbitter Group has been awarded a £5m contract to undertake major alterations, extension and refurbishment work at St Cross Grange care home in Winchester. Run by the not-for-profit Greensleeves Homes Trust, St Cross Grange is an historic building situated in its own grounds with 29 bedrooms as well as a dining area, large lounge, conservatory, library and patio. The redevelopment scheme will involve the complete refurbishment of all existing buildings, as well as the construction of two additional blocks to provide a higher number of beds and more up-to-date facilities. David Cook of Leadbitter’s said: “We are extremely pleased to be working on such a significant refurbishment and extension project to enhance this already impressive building.
We have excellent experience of both new-build and renovation work within the care sector and we look forward to a successful working relationship with Greensleeves Homes Trust.”
Improving estates management in Scotland
CAPITA Symonds has been appointed by Health Facilities Scotland (HFS) as survey partners for Phase 2 of the implementation of an Estates Asset Management System for the NHS Estate in Scotland. The work comprises the surveying or desktop appraisal of all the NHS properties in Scotland as part of the installation of the new system, which features 3i Studio’s Estate Manager software. Symonds completed work on Phase One earlier this year, which involved the development of a Property Appraisal Manual for Estate Asset Management that has been rolled out across all 22 health boards in Scotland. Phase Two will see the company using a risk-based methodology to carry out appraisals identifying the condition of the existing land and property assets; quantifying the cost of backlog maintenance; and assessing the risks associated with the condition, non compliance and suitability of the estate. Bill Morrison of Capita Symonds said: “Our appraisals will identify the works that are needed immediately, as well as those that are required five years hence. When the software system is operational, it will inform the NHS Scotland boards of the condition, compliance, functionality, utilisation, environmental performance and quality of their estates, as well as complying with the Scottish Government requirements following the Audit Scotland Report in January 2009.
Cuts lead to project being scrapped
THE single-largest capital project planned by NHS Highland for the 2011/12 financial year has been delayed following a cut in funding from the Scottish Government. It had been hoped a new day services centre would be built at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, providing day surgery, endoscopy and renal services. However, a reduction in funding, from the £29.9m it received for the current financial year, to £13.6m next year, has led to the project being postponed. However, NHS Highland said other significant projects would still go ahead. They include a cardiac catheterisation lab and a second linear accelerator at Raigmore and a four-surgery dental facility in Dingwall.
Work starts on extra care housing scheme
A GROUND-BREAKING ceremony has been held to mark the start of work on an £8.1m housing development for older people in Bristol. Representatives from Housing 21, Bristol City Council, the Homes and Communities Agency and the Leadbitter Group attended the event, which launches work to build 61 self-contained apartments together with a shop, restaurant and hairdressing salon in Stockwood. Julia Godwin, development programme manager for Housing 21, said: “We are delighted to be working on the development of this exciting project. I am sure it will be a great asset to the local area when it completes in 2012.” Apartments at the new scheme, which has received £3.6m investment from the Homes and Communities Agency, will each have a fully-fitted kitchen and walk-in shower with non-slip flooring in the kitchen and bathroom. An on-site team will provide care and support tailored to meet individual needs. HCA investment and regeneration manager, John Boutwood, said: “It’s extremely good news that partners have been able to support the development of this extra care home. It is vital that we continue to provide opportunities for vulnerable older people to live in affordable and sustainable homes that meet their particular needs, give them independence and support a good quality of life.”
Dementia home gets a facelift
BESPOKE furniture designed specially for dementia patients has been used in a refit of a care home in Dewsbury. From bedrooms to the bus stop outside, Stonehouse Manor has been given a facelift with items from Knightsbridge Furniture’s Care range. Home to 32 residents with varying degrees of dementia, the décor and fittings was a key consideration in the recent refurbishment. A Knightsbridge spokesman said: “Advocating the positive role which furniture can play in supporting the confidence and orientation of dementia patients, our product designer, Catherine Hawcroft, trained alongside care professionals and clinicians to develop her ideas in line with the latest research into person-centred dementia care. This has led to an increasing use of colour and contrast to aid those with sensory impairments, and traditional domestic styling to convey a feeling of familiarity; ideas key to the success of the furniture selected for Stonehouse Manor.” Commenting on the impact the furniture has made, Bev Dyrlaga of Plus Care Homes told BBH: “It is wonderful to find a company who care about developing a range of furniture which meets the needs of people with dementia, who listen to customers and who act on suggestions for improvements.”
