Princess Anne will officially open a £21 million state of the art mental health facility in Southport at the start of a visit to Merseyside today (Monday 26th July 2021).
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal will be greeted at Hartley Hospital by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust’s Chairman Beatrice Fraenkel and Chief Executive Joe Rafferty CBE, before touring the new hospital, which was completed and became fully operational during the pandemic.
Hartley Hospital, off Scarisbrick New Road, Southport, combines local mental health inpatient care and related community services on one site in Southport for the first time – replacing two old, worn out and unfit buildings.
The new hospital has two wards, one for adults undergoing a mental health crisis and another for older adults needing complex care. All 40 bedrooms are single with en suite bathrooms and patients have access to inner garden courtyards, therapy and activity areas. There is also a short-term assessment suite, on-site café, a family visiting room, sacred space, gym, suite of offices and outpatient services.
During the visit The Princess Royal will meet doctors, nurses, therapists and other health professionals from Mersey Care, including a member of the spiritual and pastoral care team and a service user representative. The visit has been coordinated under strict safety measures.
Chairman of Mersey Care, Beatrice Fraenkel said: “COVID-19 safety measures mean we were unable to invite the many people who have contributed to bringing Hartley Hospital to completion over recent years – but today’s official opening is a tribute to everyone who has been involved.”
Chief Executive Joe Rafferty said: “This is a special day in a long journey which has involved service users, carers, staff and partner organisations in designing a world class mental health facility fit for the 21st century.
“Thanks to support from health and construction partners and importantly our staff, we completed the final phase of the new build in December 2020 and managed to move all remaining inpatient and community mental health services in Southport here despite the enormous challenges of the pandemic.
“We’re delighted Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal has been able to officially open Hartley Hospital. It’s not only recognition of our significant investment in the health and wellbeing of Sefton, but also all the hard work and commitment that exists across all NHS mental health services.”
This is the latest accolade for Mersey Care having just been granted the Honorary Freedom of the Borough by Sefton Council along with several other Trusts for their work during the pandemic. Hartley Hospital is also shortlisted for two national design, building and service user involvement awards.
Hartley Hospital Background:
The name Hartley Hospital recognises the historic origins of its location on the former Southport General Infirmary site next to what used to be the Christiana Hartley Maternity Hospital. The late Christiana Hartley CBE, one of the famous Hartley jam-making family, went on to become Southport’s first woman Mayor in 1921 and was an advocate for better health services, education, women’s equality and champion for children and the poor.
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, which owns and runs the hospital, chose the name Hartley Hospital after consultation with its staff, service users and carers and the wider community. The hospital’s internal areas also reflect names that connect it to the Sefton coastline, including Dunes Ward, Pine Ward, Mere and Marine Suites.
Ground-breaking took place in November 2017 before groundworks got underway early in 2018 then phase one of the new build with the first ward occupied in December 2019. Phase two followed which included demolition of old adjoining buildings which up until then were still providing healthcare. The final phase was completed throughout the entire pandemic. Construction was carried out by Farran Heron Joint Venture bringing local jobs and investment. The project was supported by Liverpool Sefton Health Partnership, Gilling Dod architects and other health and construction partners coordinated by a multi-disciplinary project team led by Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and including service user and Healthwatch Sefton representatives.
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