Brunswick Ward, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

 

Brunswick Ward, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Category

Adults with dementia in-patient care

 

The problem

A need for holistic support for individuals with multiple and complex needs, and an environment suitable for older age patients with dementia.

Who was involved

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Architect: Studio Four Architects

Project outcome

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust approached us as part of a major refurbishment in 2017 – due to open in early 2018, the unit will offer in-patient care for service users with dementia.

Providing holistic support for individuals with multiple and complex needs, they needed an environment suitable for older age patients with dementia.  Because familiarity is critical to aiding recovery, the Trust chose to install our Symphony doorsets and anti-ligature locksets and handles throughout.

Doorsets designed to meet the specific needs of service users

As the ward will be home to older patients with dementia, it was important that the doorsets would help create a homely and calming environment.  Our anti-barricade doorsets helped to achieve this through:

  • Familiarity of design with no complex, confusing metal work on the door, just like at home
  • Minimal visible fixings helping to reduce institutionalism as our discrete anti-barricade doorstop, Swiftstop, is almost invisible yet ensures staff can always get in
  • Colour coded frames and doors around the ward communicating which doors are to be used by service users or staff
  • High contrast colours used on service users’ doors to ensure those with poor visibility can clearly identify the room from a distance

 

Seamlessly balancing safety and recovery

The choice of locksets and handles installed throughout the ward were also chosen based on the specific requirements of the service users:

  • Oryx handle designed to make door opening easier for those with a weak grip.  Looking just like a normal handle, it’s easily recognise by service users with dementia
  • Tested for ligature reduction in downward-only direction (B4, DHF TS001) this was appropriate as the suicide risk is lower for service users with dementia
  • Our electronic lockset, Passport Smart, was also installed on all bedroom doors offering increased independence for service users by allowing them to unlock their own door – something the CQC is increasingly highlighting in inspections
  • Passport remains the only access control lockset with a complete staff override system – ensuring staff can always gain emergency access to a room
  • The remotely programmable smart platform also offers a real-time audit trail with instant updates

 

 

 

Why Not Become a Member

News AND UPDATES

AGM 2023

On 16th November at 1pm we’ll be holding our AGM. You can book tickets to attend on Eventbrite: Download the papers for the AGM here.

Read Full Article
Loading...