Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to announce that final contracts have now been signed for the development of a new mental health campus facility on the old Manor House site in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

Following approval by the Trust Board of Directors on Wednesday 28 March, work will commence immediately on site today, Thursday 29 March 2012.

This is an exciting new development for our mental health service users, their families and carers and our staff.  Not only does it represent a significant commitment to mental health services in Buckinghamshire, it is also the biggest, single capital investment we have made at just over £40m and will remain in the Trust’s ownership.

The new facility will provide 80 adult and older adult inpatient bedrooms, all with en-suite facilities that exceed Department of Health standards around single sex accommodation and privacy and dignity.  It is also designed to be environmentally sustainable and includes many eco-friendly features such as ground source heat pumps and natural ventilation.

The design stage has been a detailed, lengthy and complex process but has resulted in and will deliver an integrated, fit for purpose, modern, flexible and efficient mental health facility caring for adults and older adults of Buckinghamshire.

Currently, mental health services in Buckinghamshire are provided in different locations across the county.  The new facility will bring many of these services together into an integrated model of care with optimal use of resources.  It will allow for many clinical benefits including:

• increased range of therapy spaces to support recovery for Occupational Therapy, Art, Physiotherapy and CBT, for both individual and group work;
• step up and step down care from a single site allowing for a greater patient flow, from general community care through to crisis care and inpatient care;
• staff access to a wide range of clinical colleagues and professional opinion through the co-location of services.

The environment in which people are cared for has a significant impact on their experience, recovery and wellbeing. The approved design uses lots of natural light and ventilation and will feel spacious and welcoming to all who use it. A large cafe area has been designed which is open to staff, visitors and the general public.  The building will include integrated, standalone and commissioned artwork both internally and outside.  There will be large outdoor green spaces and level access to gardens from each of the four wards.

The development is being built by Kier Construction Major Projects who were selected via the Department of Health’s Contractor Framework. Kier are also undertaking the redevelopment of the Highfield Adolescent Unit at the Warneford site in Oxford.

We would like to thank all service users, their carers and families, health and social care colleagues, elected representatives in Buckinghamshire and our staff for their continued support and input into the new development, and look forward to opening the brand new facilities in early 2014.

Julie Waldron

Chief Executive

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust