Case Study –Healthcare

Project: Ferndene, Children and Young People's Centre, Prudhoe, Northumberland
Client: Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Architect:Medical Architecture
Main contractor: Laing O’Rourke

Specialist healthcare project

Laidlaw’s Orbis Anti-ligature range of stainless steel door furniture has been used for both external and internal doors at the £27M Ferndene Children and Young People's Centre in Prudhoe. It is another specialist healthcare project in which Laidlaw has worked alongside Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, specialist architects Medical Architecture and main contractor Laing O’Rourke. The range was chosen once again to meet the Trust’s brief to create modern and safe facilities with an emphasis on the dignity of patients.

Ferndene provides child and adolescent mental health services and a learning disabilities unit. It has a 40-bed inpatient facility for 8-18 year olds, a two storey shared activity centre and a single storey residential block accommodating four wards. Four beds will be dedicated to intensive care and two specifically to very young children.

Architect David Davies of Medical Architecture commented, “Building on successful relationships from previous projects for the Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (with Laing O'Rourke under the NHS ProCure21 framework), Medical Architecture’s engagement with Laidlaw around the specification, procurement and supply of the Ironmongery commenced during an early stage of the scheme.

From the outset, a key design driver shared by ourselves and the clinical service managers was to create a series of buildings for children and young people that were not only safe and secure, but also domestic and homely in order to avoid creating an institutional feel. Laidlaw's role in this process became one of great importance as we worked from concept to construction, notably in finalising the detail of key fixtures and fittings, such as door furniture in and around patient activity and living spaces.

Throughout the process, Laidlaw’s local team provided the wider design team with unquestionable support and assistance at every level in a highly accessible, personable and professional manner. Towards completion, when it became apparent that bespoke, (particularly anti-ligature) ironmongery solutions were required for specific situations Laidlaw provided design and technical input until resolution, satisfactory to all, was achieved.

The final outcome is a collection of buildings finely tuned and subtly crafted which is appropriate to individual user groups. The ironmongery sits comfortably throughout in successful coordination with other elements and interfaces. Ultimately, our aspirations have been exceeded and standards have been met in a discreet and well executed manner”.

Change in design emphasis is illustrated by the inclusion
of asports hall, café and youth club, education, art
and woodwork studios and landscaped outdoor areas.
Each patient has a bedroom with en-suite facilities,
and there is also a visitors’ flat available for use by families.

Ferndene adds to the list of pioneering mental health care projects in which Laidlaw has been involved. It is the first facility in the UK to provide four separate services under one roof and joins other specialist healthcare projects in which Laidlaw has been involved such as the RIBA award winning Rose Lodge project in Hebburn and the Wrexham Maelor Hospital Mental Health Unit.