Liverpool city dignitaries and health leaders have officially "topped out" Mersey Care NHS Trust's new £25 million mental health unit, Clock View.
The new centre is being built on the site of the former Walton Hospital and the "topping out" ceremony marked the completion of the main exterior works and roof of the new hospital.
Clock View, off Rice Lane, will provide short-term inpatient care for local people in modern, therapeutic environments. It will treat adults with a range of common mental illnesses including depression and anxiety, as well as provide the city’s only psychiatric intensive care unit for people who need more intensive short-term treatment and assessment.
The hospital is a revolution in the design of a mental health facility. Unlike older units using traditional buildings, the purpose built centre will feature 80 single rooms with en-suite bathrooms, constructed to maximise natural light, with safe inner garden courtyards, activity and therapeutic areas.
Mersey Care is working with Liverpool Sefton Health Partnership Limited (LSHP) who are co-ordinating the construction of the project. LSHP delivers the government’s LIFT programme across Liverpool and Sefton.
LSHP is a public private partnership between Community Health Partnerships Limited (a company wholly owned by the Department of Health) and GP Consortium. Over the past 10 years, the LIFT programme in Liverpool has delivered over £100 million of investment in Liverpool, with 11 new health facilities built by LSHP and partners.
For the ceremony Chairman of Mersey Care NHS Trust, Beatrice Fraenkel was joined by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Gary Millar, Board Director of LSHP, Elaine Siew, Assistant Mayor, Anne O'Byrne and Noel Mullan, Commercial director of the construction company working on the scheme, Farrans-Heron Bros.
Beatrice Fraenkel said: "I am delighted to mark the official topping out of the building. With most of the exterior work now complete we are now on schedule to open the new hospital early in 2015.
"Liverpool will boast some of the best health facilities in the country, with Clock View setting a new standard in mental health care, the new hospital at Alder Hey, and the new Liverpool Royal."
Humphrey Claxton, chairman of LSHP said: "Clock View is a purpose built facility which will offer the best inpatient care and has been designed with promoting well being, from the use of natural light, to the high standards of accommodation and secure outdoor areas."
He added: "The project has also given the local economy a huge boost, creating hundreds of jobs for local people, and acting as a catalyst for growth in North Liverpool."
Cllr Gary Millar, Lord Mayor of Liverpool said: “It's great to see long-term investment being made in mental health facilities which will provide the highest standards of care. Clock View is an example of the future for mental health care and it's great to see that it's Liverpool leading the way in this."
Noel Mullan, Commercial director at Farrans-Heron Bros added: "We are proud to be involved in this project which has created some excellent opportunities for local employment, with 40 people working on the project from within just a 6 miles radius alone. By working closely with LSHP and Mersey Care NHS Trust we are happy to say we have also delivered the scheme on programme and to budget."